Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded immediate legal action against those involved in the alleged “shuddhikaran” (purification) ritual conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally there. Speaking at a press conference, Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that an FIR is registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He described the incident as an attack on the dignity of Dalits and alleged that the ritual reflected a discriminatory mindset that has no place in a constitutional democracy.

Rahul Gandhi said the issue extended far beyond a political disagreement, calling it a struggle between the values of the Indian Constitution and what he described as the ideology of the BJP and the RSS. Referring to videos in which BJP leaders allegedly defended the purification ceremony, Gandhi criticised the Prime Minister for remaining silent despite the controversy. He argued that if such an incident could occur after a public meeting addressed by the Congress president, it raised broader concerns about the treatment of Dalits across the country. Gandhi also highlighted instances of alleged caste-based discrimination, including social exclusion and violence, to stress the need for stronger enforcement of legal protections.

The Congress leader maintained that nearly three weeks had passed since the alleged purification ritual, yet no case had been registered under the SC/ST Act. He insisted that justice for Mallikarjun Kharge was not merely a party issue but a matter of upholding constitutional rights and protecting the dignity of every Dalit citizen. The controversy has intensified the political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP, with the ruling party rejecting the opposition’s allegations while the Congress continues to demand legal action and accountability over the incident.