New Delhi, Aug. 13 -- A row erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of carrying out a 'Shuddhikaran' (purification) ritual of the stage at Uttarakhand's Haldwani, where the latter addressed a rally.

Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan on August 8 as part of the party's preparations for the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly election.

Speaking in the House, Kharge, pointing out the incident, said that lakhs of people were present when he delivered the speech at Haldwani.

He said, "It pains me to say that I had delivered a speech at the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, where lakhs of people were present. I did not mention the name of any community or religi...