Dehradun, Aug. 15 -- A fresh political controversy has erupted in Uttarakhand as well as at the national level over the purification of the stage at Haldwani's Ramlila Ground following a public meeting addressed by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on 8 August. The Congress has strongly condemned the incident and is holding protests across the state against what it describes as an insult to Kharge and a reflection of caste-based discrimination. At the same time, Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit Congress leader and the party president, himself raised the issue in Rajya Sabha today and demanded a thorough probe and action against those responsible for the Shuddhikarn (purification) rituals).

It may be recalled that Kharge had addre...