Kharge Urges Nadda to Direct Uttarakhand CM to Order FIR Over ‘Purification’ Incident

NEW DELHI, Sep 3: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has urged Rajya Sabha Leader of the House J P Nadda to direct Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure registration of an FIR against those allegedly involved in the “purification” of a venue in Haldwani following his public meeting last month.

In a letter to Nadda dated September 2, Kharge recalled raising the matter in the Rajya Sabha on August 13 and referred to Nadda’s assurance that the incident would be investigated and strict action taken against anyone found responsible.

Kharge said he was surprised that 24 days after the alleged incident, no FIR had been registered against the individuals or organisations involved.

The Congress president said the ritual at Ramlila Maidan, where he had addressed a rally on August 8, was contrary to the values of the Constitution and human dignity. He alleged that such an act was connected with the practice and mindset of untouchability.

Kharge also referred to the Mahad movement led by B R Ambedkar, drawing a parallel with an earlier instance in which a “purification” ritual was reportedly conducted after Ambedkar accessed water from a public pond.

He maintained that the issue was not limited to him personally or to the Congress, arguing that it concerned millions of people who continue to face caste-based discrimination.

Kharge said he had raised the matter in Parliament to bring the government’s attention to the alleged incident and stressed the need for accountability.

“I, therefore, urge you once again,” Kharge said, asking Nadda to act on his earlier assurance and direct the Uttarakhand chief minister to ensure that a case is registered against those allegedly responsible for the ritual at Ramlila Maidan.

Political row intensifies

The dispute has since developed into a wider political confrontation between the Congress and BJP.

Earlier this week, the Congress accused the BJP of protecting people who discriminate against Dalits after an FIR was registered against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the alleged ritual. The party described the case against Gandhi as an attempt to divert attention from the original controversy.

Congress workers held demonstrations at several locations in Uttarakhand, demanding withdrawal of the case against Gandhi and action against those allegedly responsible for the Haldwani incident. Complaints were also submitted seeking registration of cases under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The BJP, meanwhile, accused the Congress of using the controversy for political purposes ahead of the Uttarakhand Assembly polls and criticised Gandhi over his comments.

The FIR against Gandhi was registered on Saturday following a complaint by a member of the Valmiki community in Haldwani. The complainant alleged that Gandhi had given a caste-related interpretation to what was described as a religious ritual.

The controversy began after some individuals allegedly conducted a “purification yajna” at Ramlila Ground on August 11, three days after Kharge addressed a public meeting at the venue.

At a press conference in New Delhi on August 29, Gandhi criticised the alleged act and demanded an FIR under the SC/ST Act against those responsible.