Haldwani 'purification' row escalates in U'khand: Congress files complaints, BJP protests
The row over the alleged "purification" ritual held in Haldwani after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally intensified here on Monday, with Congress workers filing complaints across Uttarakhand and the BJP workers staging protests and burning Rahul Gandhi’s effigies.
Congress workers visited police stations and outposts across various districts of the state on Monday to submit complaints demanding registration of cases under the SC/ST Act against those involved in the alleged "purification" act.
Congress spokesperson Pratima Singh said the party had been demanding action against those responsible for the alleged "purification" since August 9, but no FIR had been registered so far.
“The police suddenly registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi based on a complaint. Today, our workers are submitting complaints at police stations in every district across the state.
"If our FIR is not registered, the Congress will take to the streets and stage a massive protest, in which several leaders from Delhi might also participate,” she said.
A political row erupted after some individuals allegedly performed a "purification yagna" at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani on August 11, following a public meeting held there by Kharge on August 8.
The Congress linked the event to Kharge’s Dalit identity and termed it as a reflection of the BJP's anti-Dalit mindset. Those associated with the event, however, dismissed the allegations and maintained that the havan and cleanliness drive had no connection with caste.
Following the registration of the FIR against Rahul Gandhi by Haldwani resident Amit Kumar, the Congress intensified its attack on the BJP and the Uttarakhand government, questioning why a case was registered against the Congress leader instead of those who allegedly performed the "purification" ritual.
The BJP, on the other hand, completely rejected the Congress’ allegations of caste-based discrimination and staged protests against Rahul Gandhi at various district headquarters across Uttarakhand.
The BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha burnt effigies of Rahul Gandhi and demanded action against him.
Balbir Ghuliyal, state president of the BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha, alleged that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress were attempting to disrupt social harmony through the controversy.
“The people of Uttarakhand were not even aware of Mallikarjun Kharge’s caste. No BJP worker was present at that event. Despite this, the Congress is insulting the Scheduled Caste community by linking this matter to caste,” he said.
Ghuliyal said the BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha was burning Rahul Gandhi’s effigies in all districts of the state and demanding that an FIR be registered against him.
Kumar, in his complaint the Congress leader, alleged that Gandhi hurt the sentiments of the Valmiki community by wrongly linking the religious event and cleanliness drive to caste-based discrimination and untouchability.
The FIR has been registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) concerning the promotion of enmity between groups and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, has also been invoked, police said.
