Congress seeks FIR over ‘purification’ ritual at Mallikarjun Kharge’s Uttarakhand rally venue

A ‘purification’ ritual conducted at a public ground in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani two days after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally there triggered a political storm on Thursday (August 13, 2026).

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Kharge demanded the arrest of the people behind the ritual, while the party’s Uttarakhand in-charge, Kumari Selja and State party chief, Ganesh Godhiyal, accused the BJP of displaying an anti-Dalit mindset. 

Mr. Kharge had addressed the Congress’s ‘Vijay Shankhnaad’ rally at the venue on August 8. Two days later, on August 10, members of the Shri Ram Sena reportedly performed a shuddhikaran havan at the same site.

‘Anti-Dalit mindset’

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Ms. Selja criticised the BJP over the so-called ritual, questioning why authorities in the BJP-ruled State had not taken action against those involved init. She urged Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the top BJP leadership to respond to the controversy.

Alleging that the organisers of the ritual were associated with the ruling BJP, Ms. Selja said, “Whenever elections approach any State, the BJP engages in mischief but not directly. It deploys its fringe elements forward, and these fringe elements are the ones that reveal their mentality.”

Lashing out at the BJP for alleged caste discrimination, Ms Selja said the incident had raised serious questions about the treatment meted out to Mr. Kharge. A political gathering by a leader should not become a reason for any form of social or caste-based discrimination, she said.

Uttarakhand police sources, however, said that no written complaint has been given to them in the matter. “Our local intelligence also says that a few among the organisers were Dalits,” said a senior IPS official.

‘Deeply hurt’

Meanwhile, Mr. Kharge raised the matter of the ritual in the Rajya Sabha and questioned whether such conduct was compatible with constitutional and democratic values. He added that he was deeply hurt by the incident.

Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan also said any act connected with untouchability should be condemned, and that those responsible should face action.

However, Union Minister and former BJP president J.P. Nadda rejected the allegation that the BJP had organised the ritual, saying the party did not support such activities. He vowed that the matter would be looked into, and expressed regret if Mr. Kharge’s sentiments had been hurt.