New Delhi, Aug. 29 -- Amid massive political storm over the Haldwani 'purification' row, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday registered his outrage, describing the "purification" ritual carried out at Ramlila Maidan on August 10 as a blatant act of casteism and an explicit manifestation of "untouchability".

After Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi tore into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a press conference in New Delhi today, Siddaramaiah characterised the practice as "another name for untouchability". He said that the act is a direct assault on equality and human dignity.

The senior Congress leader strongly demanded the strictest possible action against those responsible and called for the i...