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Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge alleges BJP workers ‘purified’ Uttarakhand ground where he spoke
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday alleged in the Rajya Sabha that persons associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party had performed a ritual to purify the ground in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani where he addressed a rally on August 8.
Kharge, the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said that he had never sought any help or protection because he belonged to a Scheduled Caste community.
“But you treat me as untouchable, perform purification and insult me,” he added. “Is this what should be done in a democracy? How are you protecting the Constitution?”
He demanded that those who had performed the ritual should be arrested.
Responding to him, Union minister JP Nadda said that the BJP “does not subscribe to such activities”.
“This is sad, not just for the Congress, but for all of us,” said Nadda. “We will investigate this. I condemn this.”
The former national president of the BJP added: “It is a matter of great regret for all of us that your sentiments were hurt.”
The purification ritual in Haldwani was performed by a group named Shri Ram Sena, reported The Hindu. The Congress’ Uttarakhand unit had alleged that the group is associated with the BJP.
However, the Hindutva party has denied association with the group and claimed that slogans shouted at Kharge’s rally had offended those who believed in Sanatan Dharma, reported the newspaper.
Sanatana Dharma is a term some people use as a synonym for Hinduism.
On Tuesday, the Congress’ Uttarakhand unit chief Ganesh Godiyal said that the “purification” of the ground from which Kharge spoke, “by individuals associated with the BJP, is extremely hurtful and reprehensible”.
“This incident reflects caste-based discrimination and a narrow-minded mentality,” Godiyal said in a video posted on social media. “The Congress believes in humanity, equality and brotherhood, whereas such events promote hatred and division in society.”
He urged the police to take cognisance of the matter and ensure action against the persons found guilty.
“There is no place for discrimination and untouchability in modern democratic India,” said Godiyal.
On the other hand, BJP leader Khajan Das claimed that the Congress was “resorting to caste-based politics and attempts to divide the Sanatan community”, reported The Print.
Sharing the news report on social media, Congress leader KC Venugopal said that the incident was “shocking” and “shows the BJP’s anti-Dalit character”.
Venugopal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise for it as the purification ritual was an “outcome of the BJP’s culture of insults that stems right from the top, down to their cadres”.
Written by Sneha. Edited by Tanya Shrivastava.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: India, kharge, kharge rajya sabha, kharge purification ritual, purification ritual uttarkhand kharge, shuddhikaran, shuddhikaran after kharge visit, uttarkhand shuddhikaran news
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