Haridwar: Congress Protests Against BJP State President Amid ‘Purification’ Controversy

The Haridwar District Congress Committee initiated a significant protest on Monday in Haridwar, subsequently filing a police complaint against Mahendra Bhatt, the BJP Uttarakhand State President, alongside 15 other individuals. The complaint calls for legal action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The controversy erupted after an alleged ‘purification’ ritual performed on the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, which took place following a public meeting hosted by Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on August 8. The Congress party has openly criticised Bhatt’s justification of the ritual, labelling it as an affront to social justice.

During the protest, which was led by Metropolitan President Aman Garg, Congress party members demonstrated outside the Haridwar Kotwali police station before lodging their formal complaint with local authorities. Garg expressed vehement disapproval of the BJP’s actions, condemning the party for what he described as a casteist mindset that undermines social equity.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party can organise events celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, yet their hypocrisy is glaring. Following our National President Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally in Haldwani, certain individuals proceeded to conduct a havan to ‘purify’ the site. Such acts exemplify untouchability, which is unacceptable,” Garg remarked to the media.

In his statements, Garg accused Mahendra Bhatt of violating provisions within the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act through his defence of the ritual. He asserted, “Consequently, our workers have approached the Haridwar Kotwali to demand that a case be registered against Bhatt and the others involved.”

Garg further asserted that the BJP’s alleged promotion of untouchability and a casteist agenda would not be tolerated by the Congress party, aiming to defend the rights and dignity of affected communities.

On August 8, Kharge delivered an address at the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani. Following the event, members of the right-wing group, Shri Ram Sena, reportedly conducted a havan, sprinkling gangajal at the location under the guise of a “purification” process. This incident has elicited stern political responses from various quarters, with the Congress Party condemning the action as indicative of an “anti-Dalit mindset.”

Kharge also raised concerns about the incident in Parliament, demanding that those responsible face arrest and prosecution under the Untouchability (Offences) Act. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi echoed these sentiments, denouncing the ritual as reflective of a “Manuvadi mindset” and a deliberate attempt to undermine a Dalit leader.

In light of the controversy, the BJP has distanced itself from the ritual, denying any involvement in the events on the Ramlila Ground. Union Minister and Leader of the House JP Nadda publicly condemned the ritual in Parliament, emphasising the party’s lack of association with the ceremony’s organisers and indicating that the situation would be investigated thoroughly.

Meanwhile, the Shri Ram Sena and associated local BJP representatives defended the ritual, claiming that it was not motivated by Kharge’s caste but was instead performed to uphold religious decorum, which they alleged was violated at the site.

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