Row Erupts over 'Shuddhikaran' After Mallikarjun Kharge's Rally in Haldwani; Congress, BJP Trade Charges
Congress alleges caste-based discrimination after Hindu nationalist activists purified the Haldwani rally stage, while the BJP says anti-Sanatan slogans hurt religious sentiments.
- On August 8, 2026, a 'purification' ceremony was reportedly held at Haldwani's Ramlila Ground following a rally addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, triggering a political controversy in Uttarakhand.
- Organizers claimed the ritual was necessary because slogans raised during the rally offended Sanatan Dharma, while Congress leaders alleged the act was caste-based discrimination against Kharge, who is Dalit.
- Describing the incident as a 'stain on humanity,' Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal alleged the Shri Ram Sena group involved has links to the BJP, a charge the party vehemently denied.
- Chaos erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday as Kharge raised the issue, prompting Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda to promise an investigation during the Parliament Monsoon Session.
- Radhakrishnan stated in the House that those responsible would be investigated and caught, while Kharge demanded the arrest of the accused, asserting he faced discrimination solely for being a Dalit.
36 Articles
36 Articles
"Modi wants to build Viksit Bharat by excluding Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis": Priyank Kharge slams BJP, RSS amid 'Shuddhikaran' ritual row
Priyank Kharge questioned what kind of message it sends to millions of Dalits facing caste discrimination daily if a veteran political leader such as Mallikarjun Kharge, with over 50 years of public service, can be targeted for ritual purification.
Uproar in Rajya Sabha after Kharge's 'BJP purified stage after my rally' claim; Nadda responds
Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radha Krishnan on Thursday directed the government to conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged “purification” of a site in Uttarakhand where Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a gathering. The controversy erupted after Kharge raised the issue in the Upper House, alleging that people linked to the BJP conducted a havan and “shuddikaran” ritual at the stage at …
Rajya Sabha Row: Kharge Alleges 'Shuddhikaran' by BJP After Haldwani Rally; Nadda Condemns Incident, Assures Probe
Get latest articles and stories on India at LatestLY. A row erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of carrying out a 'Shuddhikaran' (purification) ritual of the stage at Uttarakhand's Haldwani, where the latter addressed a rally. India News | Rajya Sabha Row: Kharge Alleges 'Shuddhikaran' by BJP After Haldwani Rally; Nadda Condemns Incident, Assures Probe.
‘No space for dalits’: What is 'shuddhikaran' row concerning Kharge rally? What did the BJP say?
The row rocked the Parliament on Thursday when Kharge addressed the chair accusing the BJP of being behind the ‘purification' before Monsoon Session of Parliament ended.
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