Now Reading: Uttarakhand BJP chief defends Kharge rally venue purification
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Uttarakhand BJP chief defends Kharge rally venue purification
Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt has defended the purification ritual at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's rally venue in Haldwani, saying the Ramlila Ground was 'polluted' by slogans. Two days after Kharge addressed…
Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt has defended the purification ritual at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's rally venue in Haldwani, saying the Ramlila Ground was 'polluted' by slogans. Two days after Kharge addressed the Vijay Shankhnaad rally on August 8, members of the Shri Ram Sena performed a shuddhikaran havan at the site.
In Parliament, Union Minister J.P. Nadda had earlier condemned the ritual and rejected allegations that the BJP was involved, saying the party does not support such activities. Nadda added that the matter would be looked into and expressed regret if Kharge's sentiments had been hurt. The Congress has demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and action against those involved.
Speaking in Mussoorie, Bhatt accused the Opposition of exaggerating the issue for political gain. He argued that the sanctity of a religious venue must be respected, and that the purification was not directed against any Scheduled Caste individual. The Congress Working Committee discussed the matter on August 19, with Kharge calling it an issue of constitutional equality.
Indian Opinion Analysis
This incident is the latest in a pattern of disputes over the use of public grounds for political events in Uttarakhand, where the ruling BJP often invokes the state's 'Devbhoomi' identity. The core question is not the ritual itself but who authorised it and whether the state machinery was complicit. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, creating enmity between groups on grounds of caste or religion during an election campaign is a punishable offence. The Election Commission could examine whether the slogans cited by Bhatt or the subsequent purification amount to such a violation. The next step to watch is whether Kharge files a formal complaint with the EC, which would trigger a notice to the state government for a response.
For Kharge, a Dalit leader, the issue directly touches on his personal dignity and the Congress's broader appeal to SC voters ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand assembly elections.
Source: thehindu.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
