Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has urged authorities to register a First Information Report (FIR) under the SC/ST Act against individuals involved in a controversial “purification” ritual. This incident occurred in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, shortly after party president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally in the area. Gandhi’s demand highlights concerns over accountability and discrimination related to caste-based practices.
The Congress leader also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue, questioning the BJP leadership’s response to the alleged ritual. “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.
Because he was a Dalit, the Congress alleged that the ritual was aimed at Kharge. Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8. 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.
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. 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.
