Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Kharge Urges Congress to Fight Caste Bias After Purification Row
Mallikarjun Kharge spoke at a Congress rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
Later, a group held a ceremony to purify the same place.
Congress leaders said this was wrong and showed caste discrimination.
Kharge said he wanted more support from his colleagues.
He also asked Congress leaders to fight such discrimination strongly.
The Congress Working Committee condemned the ceremony.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence.
Congress leaders said the group was connected to the BJP-RSS ecosystem.
The BJP denied that the group was associated with it.
Mallikarjun Kharge said he expected stronger support from Congress colleagues after a purification ceremony at a rally venue in Haldwani.
The ceremony took place at Ramlila Maidan after Kharge addressed a gathering there on August 8.
Kharge urged Congress leaders to take an aggressive stance against caste discrimination and social injustice.
The Congress Working Committee condemned the ceremony and demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Congress leaders alleged links between the Shri Ram Sena group and the BJP, while the BJP strongly denied the charge.
- Who
- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders, the Shri Ram Sena group, and the BJP are central to the dispute.
- What
- Congress leaders condemned a purification ceremony held at a venue where Kharge had spoken and called for action against caste discrimination.
- When
- Kharge addressed the gathering on August 8; the Congress Working Committee discussed the issue on Wednesday, after the ceremony took place.
- Where
- Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, Uttarakhand; Kharge also discussed the issue at a public meeting in South Goa.
- Why
- Congress leaders said the ceremony reflected caste-based discrimination and alleged it was linked to the BJP-RSS ecosystem; the BJP denied the allegation.
Congress’s allegations
BJP’s response
Who organized the ceremony
Congress’s allegations
Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal and other Congress leaders alleged that the Shri Ram Sena group was associated with the BJP and the BJP-RSS ecosystem.
BJP’s response
The BJP vehemently denied that the Shri Ram Sena group was associated with the party.
Meaning of the ceremony
Congress’s allegations
Congress leaders described the purification ceremony as unacceptable and an example of caste-based discrimination, arguing that it contradicted religious values.
BJP’s response
The BJP’s reported denial focused on rejecting the alleged party association; the article does not provide a separate explanation of the ceremony’s religious meaning.
Political responsibility
Congress’s allegations
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence and demanded an apology.
BJP’s response
The article does not report a response from Narendra Modi to that demand.
- Congress president
- Mallikarjun Kharge
- Rally venue
- Ramlila Maidan, Haldwani, Uttarakhand
- Rally date
- August 8
- Congress body involved
- Congress Working Committee
- Congress demand
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise over the issue
- Disputed allegation
- Uttarakhand Congress alleged that Shri Ram Sena was associated with the BJP; the BJP denied the charge