Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Union Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha JP Nadda, seeking action over an alleged purification ritual conducted at the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani after a public meeting addressed by him.
The controversy relates to a Congress public meeting held at Haldwani's Ramlila Maidan on August 8, 2026. According to Congress leaders, a purification or shuddhikaran ritual was subsequently carried out at the venue. Kharge has described the incident as an act linked to untouchability and has sought legal action against those responsible.
In a letter dated September 2, Kharge reminded Nadda of the assurance he had given in the Rajya Sabha when the issue was raised on August 13. Kharge said Nadda had described the incident as deeply regrettable and had assured the House that the matter would be investigated and strict action would be taken against those found responsible.
Kharge has now said that 24 days have passed since the incident but that no FIR has been registered against the individuals or organisations allegedly involved in the ritual. He therefore urged Nadda to act on the assurance given in Parliament and direct Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure that an FIR is registered.
The Congress president has argued that the issue goes beyond his personal position or his role as Congress president. He said the controversy concerns the broader issue of caste discrimination and the experiences of people who continue to face such practices.
Kharge has linked the alleged incident to the constitutional principle of equality and has argued that practices associated with untouchability have no place in a democratic society. He also referred to the Mahad Satyagraha led by BR Ambedkar in 1927 while explaining his objection to the alleged purification ritual.
The Mahad Satyagraha was an important movement in the history of the struggle against caste discrimination. Kharge referred to the historical episode to underline his argument that purification rituals have previously been associated with caste-based exclusion.
The political controversy has continued since the Haldwani incident. Congress leaders have alleged that the ritual was conducted because Kharge is a Dalit leader. They have described the alleged act as an example of caste discrimination and have demanded action from the Uttarakhand government.
The BJP has rejected the Congress's interpretation of the incident. BJP leaders have argued that there was no caste angle to the episode and have disputed the Congress's allegations. Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt earlier defended the purification ritual, saying that the Ramlila Ground had been subjected to a purification ceremony after the Congress event.
JP Nadda had earlier condemned the incident in the Rajya Sabha and said that the BJP did not support such activities. According to Kharge's letter, Nadda had assured Parliament that the matter would be examined and that appropriate action would follow if wrongdoing was established. Kharge is now asking the BJP leader to ensure that the assurance is implemented through the registration of an FIR.
The demand for an FIR has become another point of political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP in Uttarakhand. Congress leaders have argued that a formal police investigation is necessary to identify the individuals or organisations responsible and determine whether any law was violated.
The controversy has also widened after an FIR was registered against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks concerning the alleged purification ritual. According to reports, the case was registered after a complaint alleging that Gandhi's comments hurt the sentiments of members of the Scheduled Caste community. Police invoked provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the case.
The Congress has criticised the registration of the case against Gandhi while continuing to demand action against those allegedly involved in the Haldwani ritual. The party has argued that the authorities should investigate both sides of the controversy and determine responsibility according to law.
Kharge's latest letter is therefore aimed at bringing the matter back to the assurance given in Parliament. He has asked Nadda to direct the Uttarakhand Chief Minister to take steps towards registering an FIR against the individuals and organisations allegedly involved in the incident.
The Congress president has also emphasised that the matter is not merely about a political disagreement between two parties. He has presented it as an issue involving caste discrimination, constitutional values and the dignity of citizens.
The allegations surrounding the Haldwani incident remain politically contested. While Congress leaders have described the alleged purification as an act of untouchability, BJP leaders have rejected the caste-based interpretation and defended the event. The final determination of whether any offence occurred would depend on an investigation by the appropriate authorities.
The absence of an FIR against those alleged to have conducted the purification has become a major concern for Congress. Kharge has argued that the delay is inconsistent with the assurance given by Nadda in the Rajya Sabha.
The matter is likely to remain politically significant as Uttarakhand prepares for its next Assembly election. Both the Congress and BJP are expected to raise issues concerning social justice, governance, development and community relations during the political campaign.
For now, Kharge has called on Nadda to intervene and ensure that the assurance given in Parliament is followed by concrete action. He has specifically sought registration of an FIR and an investigation into the individuals and organisations allegedly involved in the Haldwani incident.
The next steps will depend on the response of the Uttarakhand government and the findings of any police investigation. Until an official investigation establishes the facts, the allegations surrounding the alleged purification ritual remain claims made by the concerned political parties and leaders.