Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge brought up the incident of alleged ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ceremony held at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after the Congress president addressed a rally there on August 8, 2026.

“Register a case against this act of untouchability. That is my demand,” Mr. Kharge said, claiming that the BJP had a role to play in the incident.

To this, Leader of the House J.P. Nadda said the BJP does not subscribe to such activities. Condeming the incident, he said the BJP National President Nitin Nabin will take the matter seriously. “Strict action will be taken against those found responsible upon investigation,” he said, asking the Congress to not “politicise” the issue.

“Untouchability is not a sin. We all condemn it irrespective of party or ideology. We are all pure and there is no need to purify us. I request the government to take this up for investigation and those responsible must be punished. No two ways about it,” Chair Radhakrishnan said in his observations.