Dehradun, Aug. 13 -- The state Congress unit on Wednesday alleged that people linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) carried out a "purification" ritual at the stage used by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge during his recent rally in Haldwani. The BJP, however, dismissed the allegation. State Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal alleged that a "purification ritual" was carried out at the stage after Kharge addressed the gathering. He urged the Nainital senior superintendent of police to take cognisance of the matter and conduct an impartial probe. "There is no place for discrimination and untouchability in modern democratic India. We strongly oppose such a mindset through democratic and constitutional means," Godiyal said. The BJP termed the Congress' allegation an attempt to insult Sanatan Dharma and divide society on caste lines. Cabinet minister and BJP state spokesperson Khajan Das claimed the BJP has no connection with any organisation that conducted the ritual at the venue. . "The allegation is completely baseless, untrue and misleading. The BJP has nothing to do with any such organisation," Das said. He said the ritual was a response to alleged sloganeering linked to Islam at the venue. "The place where this happened is the Ramleela Maidan, which has special religious significance in Sanatan Dharma. Raising slogans associated with another religion at such a sacred place cannot be accepted or justified " he said. Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas secretary Ram Awasthi said, "The purpose of the shuddhi yagna is not to create hostility towards any community, but to conduct a religious ritual to restore the religious and cultural identity of Ramleela Maidan."...