New Delhi, Sep 2026 : Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has urged Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha and Union Minister J.P. Nadda to ensure that an FIR is registered and swift action taken against those allegedly involved in a “Shuddhikaran” or purification ritual conducted at the Ram Leela Maidan in Haldwani following a public meeting addressed by him.
In a letter to Nadda on Thursday, Kharge recalled an assurance previously given by the Union minister and requested him to direct the Uttarakhand government to take appropriate action against the organisations and individuals allegedly responsible for the incident.
Kharge expressed concern that no FIR had been registered against those involved even several days after the incident. He said that 24 days had passed since the alleged ritual and described the incident as objectionable, particularly because it was conducted at the same location where he had addressed a public rally.
“I am astonished that even 24 days after the incident, not even an FIR has been registered against the organisations and individuals responsible for carrying out this despicable act in Haldwani,” Kharge said in his letter. He argued that conducting a purification ritual at the venue after his meeting was contrary to the spirit of the Constitution and broader human values.
The Congress chief also reiterated the position earlier expressed by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who had linked the practice of “Shuddhikaran” to the issue of untouchability. Kharge said the controversy should not be treated merely as a personal matter involving him or his position as Congress president, but should instead be viewed in the context of caste-based discrimination.
Drawing a historical parallel, Kharge referred to the Mahad Satyagraha led by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, recalling that after Ambedkar drank water from a public tank during the movement, individuals opposed to his action reportedly conducted a purification ritual involving cow urine and cow dung while chanting mantras.
Kharge argued that religious practices such as chanting mantras or conducting a havan could not, by themselves, legitimise what he described as a caste-based purification practice.
“This issue goes beyond me personally or my position as the President of the Indian National Congress; it is connected on a broader level to the sentiments of crores of people who continue to face this cruel reality every day,” Kharge said, urging action against those allegedly responsible.
He subsequently requested Nadda to ask Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure the registration of an FIR against the organisations and individuals allegedly involved in the ritual at the Ram Leela Maidan.
The controversy dates back to August 8, when Kharge addressed a public meeting at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani. Following the rally, a group of people reportedly conducted a “purification” ceremony at the venue, triggering a political controversy over the reasons behind the ritual.
Kharge had subsequently raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. He alleged that the ritual was connected to his identity as a Dalit leader and questioned whether such an act was compatible with the values of a democratic society and the Constitution.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, rejected the allegations and maintained that there was “no caste angle” to the incident.
The controversy took another turn on August 30 when Uttarakhand Police registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks concerning the alleged purification ritual. The case followed a complaint filed by Amit Kumar, a member of the Valmiki community, who alleged that Gandhi’s comments had hurt the sentiments of members of the Scheduled Caste community.
Police invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, including Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u), along with Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Kharge’s latest letter has therefore brought the Haldwani controversy back into focus, with the Congress demanding action against those allegedly responsible for the ritual while the BJP continues to reject the party’s caste-based interpretation of the incident.
