New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded that an FIR be registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act over an alleged ‘shuddhikaran’ or purification ritual conducted at a venue in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there.

Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8. Two days later, members of the Shri Ram Sena reportedly conducted a ‘shuddhikaran’ havan at the venue.

The Congress has alleged that the ritual was aimed at Kharge because he is a Dalit and described the episode as an instance of caste discrimination.

‘Purification ritual is a crime’: Rahul Gandhi

Speaking at Indira Bhawan in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said the alleged act amounted to an offence under the SC/ST Act and demanded immediate police action.

“This act violates the SC/ST Act. Performing a 'purification' ritual is a crime. Yet, no action has been taken. Therefore, we demand that an FIR be registered immediately against those who carried out this purification ritual in Uttarakhand,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi also questioned the response of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership over the alleged incident.

“The Prime Minister claims to belong to every caste and to be the Prime Minister of all of India. Yet, the chief of his party states that the purification was justified,” Gandhi said.

“We want the Prime Minister to immediately order the registration of an FIR against these individuals under the SC/ST Act. It is the duty of both the State Government and the Central Government to ensure that Kharge ji receives justice in Uttarakhand,” he added.

What happened at Kharge’s rally venue?

The controversy began after the reported ‘shuddhikaran’ ritual at Ramlila Maidan, where Kharge had addressed the Congress rally on August 8.

According to the Congress, members of the Shri Ram Sena conducted the havan at the venue on August 10. The party alleged that the ritual was carried out because Kharge is a Dalit.

The Congress has described the incident as caste discrimination and has demanded legal action against those involved.

The BJP has denied involvement in the reported ritual. The controversy has nevertheless triggered a political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP, with Rahul Gandhi demanding action under the SC/ST Act.

The Congress has maintained that an FIR should be registered against those responsible for the alleged act, while the BJP has rejected the allegation of involvement.