Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has alleged that the “deeply entrenched, discriminatory mindset of the BJP’s leadership and ideology” was behind the alleged ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ritual performed at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani following party president Mallikarjun Kharge ’s visit.
“The root cause is BJP’s Ideology: Excuses, regret, or semantic deflections cannot mask the underlying problem. This incident reflects the deeply entrenched, discriminatory mindset of the BJP’s leadership and ideology.
We must not allow those responsible to evade accountability,” Tharoor said in a statement on X. Tharoor said the incident was not merely a political dispute, arguing that it had wider implications for Dalit citizens.
“This is not a personal issue or standard political back-and-forth. “Attempting to hide behind words like ‘shuddhikaran’ or ‘safai’, as @rahulgandhi pointed out, does not erase the nature of the act. Performing a ‘purification’ ritual following the presence of a prominent Dalit leader is an act of untouchability. “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. Members of a right-wing group later reportedly conducted a purification ritual at the ground, which was criticised by the leaders of Congress party.
Earlier reporting noted: The controversy erupted after Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8.
If the National President of the principal opposition party, a leader who has dedicated decades to public service, can be subjected to this mindset, imagine the everyday reality and indignities faced by ordinary Dalit citizens and children across India,” he said. Tharoor said, “Justice for Kharge Ji is Justice for All Dalits,” and said the Congress would not remain silent over the incident. It is unconstitutional, unacceptable, and a punishable offense under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,” Tharoor said. Yet, the state chief of his party states that the purification was justified,” Gandhi said. It is the duty of both the State Government and the Central Government to ensure that Kharge ji receives justice in Uttarakhand,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: ‘Congress misleading Dalit community’: BJP rejects Rahul’s claim of Kharge’s insult in Haldwani purification ritual The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday dismissed Congress’s claims of a “purification” ritual being held at Ramlila Ground in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public meeting there. Earlier reporting noted: Uttarakhand minister and BJP leader Khajan Das said the party had no connection with the incident and accused the Congress of “attempting to mislead” the Dalit community, ANI news agency reported.
