NEW DELHI — Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, raised a strong protest in Parliament against a “purification” ritual conducted at the site of his recent public address in Uttarakhand.
The controversy stems from Kharge’s address at the “Vijay Shankhnaad” rally on Saturday at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan. On August 10, a right-wing group, ‘Shri Ram Sena’, conducted a shuddhikaran havan at the venue.
Core Controversy & Political Reactions
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Kharge’s Critique: Speaking on the final day of the Monsoon Session, Kharge asserted that such acts promote caste-based division and run contrary to Hindu principles and constitutional values.
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Parliamentary Assurance: Leader of the House JP Nadda described the event as unfortunate, clarified that BJP members were not involved, and pledged an investigation.
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State Congress Stand: Uttarakhand Congress President Ganesh Godiyal condemned the incident as reflection of narrow-minded mindset and requested action from local law enforcement.
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BJP Counter-Claim: BJP spokesperson Khajan Das dismissed charges of caste bias, stating that the havan was a reaction to religious slogans raised during the rally that hurt community sentiments.
