Chennai, Aug. 15 -- Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Saturday condemned the alleged shuddhikaran (purification) ritual conducted at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following a public rally addressed by All India Congress Committee (AICC) President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.

Tagore described the act as a manifestation of "hate-based politics" and an insult to the constitutional dignity of a senior national leader.

The controversy stems from an August 8 rally in Haldwani, organised ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, after which members of a right-wing group performed a purification ritual at the venue. The incident drew widespread condemnation from the Congress leadership...