Dehradun/Haldwani, Sept. 1 -- The political row over an alleged "purification" ritual at Haldwani's Ramlila Ground intensified on Monday, with the Uttarakhand Congress demanding action against those who allegedly conducted the ceremony following a rally addressed by August 10 Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, while the BJP Scheduled Caste (SC) Morcha staged protests across the state and burnt effigies of Lok Sabha leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the controversy. Congress also demanded the quashing of an FIR registered against Gandhi at Haldwani police station under provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, describing the case as "false, baseless and politically motivated". The controversy relates to an alleged 'shuddhikaran havan' and sprinkling of Gangajal at the Ramlila Ground on August 10, two days after Kharge addressed a Congress meeting at the venue on August 8. Congress leaders alleged that the ritual was intended to convey that the venue had been "polluted" by the presence of the Congress leader and party workers. State Congress president Ganesh Godiyal said Congress workers led by district, city, town and block-level office-bearers approached police stations and outposts across Uttarakhand and submitted complaints seeking cases against those allegedly involved in the matter. Congress workers submitted a complaint at the Dhara police outpost seeking registration of a case against Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt for his alleged statements related to defending the "purification ritual". In Vikasnagar, Congress workers led by former leader of Opposition and Chakrata MLA Pritam Singh submitted complaint at the local police station In Haldwani, a delegation led by leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya submitted a complaint to circle officer Amit Kumar Saini. According to the complaint submitted by Govind Singh, a resident of Damuwadhunga Kham, Girish Chand Pandey, president of Shri Ram Dharmarth Seva Nyas, and around 15 others allegedly performed the purification ritual and sprinkled Gangajal at the venue on August 10. Singh alleged that the ceremony hurt the sentiments of members of the Scheduled Caste community and people committed to national integrity. Congress referred to Kharge raising the matter in the Rajya Sabha on August 13 and to subsequent statements by Union minister JP Nadda and Bhatt. Congress leaders alleged that Bhatt's remarks defending the ceremony amounted to justification of the incident and sought action against those responsible under applicable laws. "We have received the complaint and an investigation is underway," CO Amit Kumar Saini said. Arya accused the BJP of having an "anti-Dalit mindset" and alleged that the police were following different standards while dealing with complaints involving Congress and BJP leaders. Suryakant Dhasmana, senior vice-president of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee and AICC member, submitted a memorandum to the DGP's office demanding that the FIR be quashed after an impartial investigation. The BJP, however, rejected the Congress's allegations and mounted a counter-offensive against Gandhi and the opposition party. The BJP SC Morcha organised protests and effigy burnings in different parts of the state , accusing Gandhi of making "false and misleading" caste-related allegations against the people of the state. Balbir Ghuniyal, state president, BJP SC Morcha, said Gandhi's statements were an attempt to defame Uttarakhand. He said the allegations were particularly objectionable in a state with a strong tradition of military service....