Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded an FIR be registered under the SC/ST Act against those who allegedly carried out a “purification” ritual at a venue in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani after party president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there.
The Congress leader also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue, questioning the BJP leadership’s response to the alleged ritual. Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8. Because he was a Dalit, the Congress alleged that the ritual was aimed at Kharge.
Two days later, members of the Shri Ram Sena reportedly conducted a “shuddhikaran” havan at the venue . Rahul Gandhi, speaking at Indira Bhawan in Delhi, said the alleged ritual was offensive under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“The Prime Minister claims to belong to every caste and to be the Prime Minister of all of India. “We want the Prime Minister to immediately order the registration of an FIR against these individuals under the SC/ST Act. It is the duty of both the State Government and the Central Government to ensure that Kharge ji receives justice in Uttarakhand,” he added. The Congress has continued to demand action. He also played a video of Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt defending the ritual, stating ‘the place was polluted with slogans’.
A party delegation also met Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (retd) on August 24, seeking a fair investigation and alleging that no concrete action had been taken despite Nadda’s assurance. Earlier reporting noted: Congress chief Kharge must get justice, we demand FIR: Rahul Gandhi on rally venue ‘purification’ in Uttarakhand Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (August 29, 2026) pressed for the registration of an FIR under the SC/ST law over the ‘purification’ ritual conducted at a public ground in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani after party president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally there earlier in the month.
Yet, the chief of his party states that the purification was justified,” Gandhi said. Union minister JP Nadda had called the incident unfortunate, said the BJP did not support such an act and assured the House that the matter would be investigated. Earlier reporting noted: “The BJP-RSS people practice untouchability, though it is banned, a crime as per Constitution,” Mr. Gandhi said, speaking at a press conference. Earlier reporting noted: The Congress wants PM to soon order FIR registration under SC/ST law against those indulging in purification act, the LoP said, asserting that Mr. Kharge “will get justice in Uttarakhand, whether it is today or tomorrow”. “If such a thing can be done against senior person like Mallikarjun Kharge, imagine what can be done to a four-year-old in a school,” he said.
