Congress Samiti to hold silent march in Kalaburagi over Haldwani ritual

The district unit of the Congress Prachar Samiti will take out a silent protest march in Kalaburagi on Saturday against an alleged 'purification' ritual performed at a venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a Congress rally there on August 8.

Speaking at a press conference in the city on Friday, samiti vice-president Mahantesh Kaulagi termed the ritual a casteist and humiliating act, saying it pointed to the persistence of discriminatory practices against Dalits and other oppressed communities.

Reports of a purification ceremony at Haldwani's Ramlila Maidan following Mr. Kharge's public meeting have drawn widespread condemnation. Mr. Kaulagi said the episode should not be treated as a mere political controversy but viewed against the longer struggle against caste discrimination, untouchability and social exclusion.

He said the incident had deeply hurt the sentiments of Dalits and other oppressed sections, who have fought for decades for dignity, equality and social justice, and amounted to an insult to the self-respect of communities that have endured discrimination and untouchability.

The march will begin at the Congress office and proceed to the Mahatma Gandhi statue at Town Hall, where participants will assemble and register their opposition to caste-based discrimination. Members of the samiti, along with representatives and workers of various wings of the District Congress Committee, are expected to take part.

Recalling the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B.R. Ambedkar in the fight against untouchability and caste oppression, the samiti members said the silent march would reaffirm the constitutional commitment to equality, fraternity and human dignity.