Haldwani Purification Ritual: Mallikarjun Kharge calls it an ‘act of untouchability’

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday (September 3, 2026) said the “cleansing” carried out at his rally venue in Haldwani last month was an act of “untouchability” and said his party would approach Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan over the matter.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Mr Kharge also questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue, saying they remain silent when something bad happens.

He urged people to stand by Rahul Gandhi in his fight for the cause of Dalits, women and students.

Mr. Kharge urged the people to raise their voice against such cleansing acts and carry out the movement peacefully.

“I have written to the Leader of the Rajya Sabha, JP Nadda and reminded him that even after 24 days there has been no action on the assurances given by the government in the upper house,” Mr Kharge said.

“I have mentioned the details of what happened in the Rajya Sabha and I am waiting for his reply,” Mr Kharge said.

While praising Mr Gandhi for raising voice for Dalits, women and students, he criticized the BJP for lodging an FIR against him in Uttarakhand.

“Rahul Gandhi has raised his voice and is raising questions about students, women inflation and is also raising questions for Dalits. BJP has lodged an FIR against a person who is fighting for Dalits, women and students,” Mr Kharge said.

They filed the FIR to demoralize and intimidate Mr. Gandhi, but the Congress will not be intimidated, Mr. Kharge alleged.

“We will not allow BJP to target Rahul Gandhi who is working for the welfare of Dalits,” he said.

Is this the rule of law under BJP’s “twin engine” rule that a case is filed against a person who raises the vote for Dalits?

“I want to tell them (BJP), don’t do such things, don’t work to divide the society,” he said.

“This is an incident of untouchability, it is not just about purification,” he said, adding that they carried out the process to tell people that they are superior.

Mr Kharge’s remarks came after he wrote to Mr Nadd regarding the “purge” that took place after his rally in Haldwani last month and asked him to direct Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure that an FIR is lodged against those involved in the incident.

Mr. Kharge reminded Mr. Nadda of his assurance when he raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha that strict action would be taken against whoever was found guilty after the investigation.

“You may recall that on August 13, 2026, I raised the issue of untouchability-related purge in the Rajya Sabha with great sadness and anguish after my public meeting at Haldwani on August 8, 2026,” Mr. Kharge said in his Hindi letter.

“In response to my intervention, you stood up in the House and said, ‘Sir, what Honorable Khargeji said is indeed a very sad subject. It is not only sad for the Congress party but it is sad for all of us. Whatever happened will definitely be investigated. I want to say that the Bharatiya Janata Party never supports such activity. I condemn it and the National President will also look into it thoroughly.'” Mr Kharge said.

The Congress president said that Mr. Nadda had stated that strict action would be taken against whoever was found guilty after the investigation.

“The Hon’ble Rajya Sabha Chairman (CP Radhakrishnan) has also expressed grief over this incident,” he said.

Earlier this week, the Congress accused the BJP of committing social injustice and protecting those who discriminate against Dalits after an FIR was lodged in Uttarakhand against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about allegedly cleaning a venue where Mr Kharge had addressed a rally.

The opposition party called the FIR against Mr Gandhi an “attempt to divert attention and suppress voices” and said it would give a befitting reply to it through democratic and legal means.

Congress workers protested at several places against the registration of a case against Mr. Gandhi and demanded its withdrawal and action against those behind the “cleansing act” at Mr. Kharge’s rally venue in Haldwani.

They also filed complaints across Uttarakhand demanding registration of cases under the SC/ST Act against those involved in the alleged Cleansing Act. BJP workers also staged protests in Uttarakhand and burnt effigies of Mr. Gandhi.

The BJP has accused the Congress of playing petty politics over the issue due to the upcoming assembly polls and termed Mr Gandhi as the “most anti-Dalit leader”.

The FIR was registered against Mr Gandhi on Saturday (August 29, 2026) following a complaint by a member of the Valmiki community in Haldwani, who alleged that the Congress leader had made the casteists perform a “religious ritual” at a recent press conference.

The political row erupted after some individuals allegedly conducted a “purification yajna” at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani on August 11 following Mr. Kharge’s public meeting on August 8.

At a press conference in New Delhi on August 29, Mr Gandhi criticized the incident and demanded registration of an FIR under the SC/ST Act against those responsible for the “purge”.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 15:34 IST