India, Aug. 29 -- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded an FIR be registered under the SC/ST Act against those who allegedly carried out a "purification" ritual at a venue in Uttarakhand's Haldwani after party president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there.

Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8. Two days later, members of the Shri Ram Sena reportedly conducted a "shuddhikaran" havan at the venue. The Congress alleged that the ritual was aimed at Kharge because he was a Dalit.

Rahul Gandhi, speaking at Indira Bhawan in Delhi, said the alleged ritual was offensive under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

"This act violates the the SC/ST Act. Performing...