Nainital Police File FIR Over Purification Ritual at Kharge Rally Site
Uttarakhand police registered an FIR over a 'purification' ritual at a Congress rally venue used by Mallikarjun Kharge, following a complaint by a party worker.
The Nainital Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified individuals in connection with a purification ceremony held at a rally venue in Haldwani. The ritual, conducted at the Ramlila ground, took place days after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a gathering there on August 8.
The case was filed on Tuesday following a complaint by a Congress worker named Anju. Senior Superintendent of Police Manjunath TC confirmed that the FIR was lodged after due diligence, noting that several petitions on the matter had been received. The investigation has been assigned to Superintendent of Police (Crime) Jagdish Chandra.
The FIR invokes Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 3(1)(R) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The legal action comes after the Congress repeatedly demanded police intervention, alleging the ceremony was aimed at Mr. Kharge because he belongs to the Dalit community.
On August 11, members of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas Sangathan performed a 'shuddhikaran yagna' at the venue. Videos of the ritual, showing participants performing a hawan, circulated widely on social media. The organisers have denied any caste motive, stating the ceremony was not directed at Mr. Kharge.
The development follows a separate case lodged last week against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the ritual. That FIR was based on a complaint by Vinod Kumar Arya and Amit Kumar, who are associated with the same organisation. Mr. Kharge had also raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, demanding action under laws related to untouchability.
BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt had previously supported the act, claiming it was necessary as slogans raised at the venue had polluted a place associated with Lord Ram. The FIR registration comes ahead of a scheduled visit by Mr. Gandhi to Uttarakhand on September 11 and 12.