Rahul Gandhi Seeks SC/ST Act Case Over ‘Purification’ Of Kharge’s Rally Ven

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi order an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who allegedly conducted a ‘shuddhikaran’ or purification ritual at a venue in Haldwani where party president Mallikarjun Kharge had spoken.

The ritual was reportedly carried out at the Ramlila ground on August 10, two days after Kharge, a Dalit leader, addressed a Congress rally there. Calling the incident a reflection of the BJP and RSS ideology, Gandhi said both the state and central governments must ensure justice for the party chief.

Allegations of Untouchability and BJP Role

Holding a press conference, Gandhi played a video clip showing the Uttarakhand BJP chief supporting the ritual and targeted the Prime Minister over his silence. He reportedly argued that the issue extends beyond Kharge to reflect the broader treatment of Dalits across the country, describing the ritual as another form of untouchability.

Demands put forward by the Congress leader include:

• Immediate registration of an FIR against everyone involved in the ‘shuddhikaran’ ritual.
• Strict invocation of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the case.
• Direct intervention by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to order the legal action.
• Delivery of justice for Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Widespread Discrimination and Unconstitutional Practices

Gandhi framed the incident as part of a wider political and ideological battle between the Constitution and the views of the RSS-BJP. He alleged that Dalits continue to face daily discrimination in schools, villages, tea shops and social events, calling the Haldwani event merely the "tip of the iceberg".

He referenced wider patterns of discrimination, such as Dalit students being forced to clean toilets, people being barred from common water sources, and the use of separate cups at tea stalls. Gandhi also cited reports of similar purification rituals held after Union minister Jitin Ram Manjhi visited a temple, maintaining that such actions are illegal and unconstitutional.

Internal Debates and Call for Justice

Kharge had previously raised the Haldwani incident during a Congress Working Committee meeting on  August 19, expressing disappointment that certain party leaders had not backed him on the matter. Clarifying the situation, Gandhi reportedly stated that Kharge had not accused the majority of leaders of failing to support him.

Gandhi added that he had personally spoken with Kharge to emphasize that the issue transcends any single leader. He noted that if an incident of this nature could target a senior leader and party president, it raises grave concerns about the plight of ordinary Dalit citizens and children across India. Reiterating his demand for an FIR, Gandhi asserted that Kharge must receive justice "today or tomorrow".