New Delhi, Sept. 3 -- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has urged Rajya Sabha Leader of the House J P Nadda to direct Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure registration of an FIR against those allegedly involved in the "purification" of a rally venue in Haldwani, describing the incident as an act of "untouchability".

In a letter to Nadda, Kharge recalled raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha on August 13, following his public meeting at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8. He said Nadda had then assured the House that the incident would be investigated and strict action taken against those found guilty.

Kharge said Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan had also expressed grief over the incident. However, he expressed surprise that 24 days after the incident, no FIR had been registered against the organisations or individuals allegedly responsible.

"The most objectionable aspect of this incident was that at the Ramlila Maidan site where I addressed the rally, purification was carried out, contrary to the spirit of the Indian Constitution and human values," Kharge said in the letter dated September 2.

He argued that such a ritual was directly linked to untouchability and cited the Mahad movement led by B R Ambedkar, saying a similar "purification" had been carried out after Ambedkar drank water from a public tank.

Kharge said the issue went beyond him or the Congress and concerned millions of people facing caste discrimination. He urged Nadda to ensure that an FIR was registered against those responsible in accordance with the assurances given in Parliament.

Speaking to reporters later, Kharge said the incident was not merely about purification but reflected a mindset of claiming superiority over a particular section of society. He said the Congress would approach the Rajya Sabha chairman over the matter.

Kharge also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their silence on the issue, alleging that the BJP remained silent whenever incidents involving Dalits occurred.

He defended Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier criticised the alleged purification and demanded an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.