Kharge writes to Nadda: No FIR in 24 days over Haldwani 'shuddhikaran' row
Synopsis
Twenty-four days after a 'shuddhikaran' ritual was allegedly performed at the spot where Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally in Haldwani, no FIR has been filed against the perpetrators — yet one has been registered against Rahul Gandhi for speaking about it. Kharge's letter to J.P. Nadda puts the Uttarakhand government's inaction squarely in the national spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to Union Minister J.P.
Nadda on 3 September demanding police action over the Haldwani 'shuddhikaran' incident.
No FIR has been registered against those who allegedly conducted the ritual, even 24 days after it occurred on 8 August at Ram Leela Maidan, Haldwani .
Kharge linked the ritual to caste-based untouchability, citing the historical precedent of the Mahad Satyagraha involving Dr B.R.
On 30 August , an FIR was instead registered against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about the ritual, under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and BNS Section 196 .
The BJP has denied any caste angle to the incident; Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has yet to act.
Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, 3 September wrote to Rajya Sabha Leader of the House and Union Minister J.P. Nadda, demanding swift action over the alleged 'shuddhikaran' (purification) ritual conducted at Ram Leela Maidan in Haldwani following his public rally there — with no FIR registered even 24 days after the incident.
What Kharge Alleged
In his letter, Kharge expressed astonishment that despite the passage of 24 days, no First Information Report had been filed against those responsible for what he described as a 'despicable act.' He urged Nadda to direct the Uttarakhand government to take appropriate action against the organisations and individuals involved.
'I am astonished that even 24 days after the incident, not even an FIR has been registered against the organisations and individuals responsible for carrying out this despicable act in Haldwani. The most objectionable aspect of this episode was that at the very spot in Ramlila Maidan where I had addressed the rally, a ‘purification’ ritual was performed — an act contrary to the spirit of the Constitution of India and to human values,' Kharge said in the letter.
The Caste Discrimination Argument
Kharge reiterated the position of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi that the practice of 'shuddhikaran' is directly linked to untouchability. He invoked the historical precedent of the Mahad Satyagraha, when Dr B.R. Ambedkar drank water from a public tank and was met with a caste-driven purification ritual involving 108 pots of cow urine and cow dung.
Kharge argued the issue extends beyond his personal standing as Congress president. 'This issue goes beyond me personally or my position as the President of the Indian National Congress; it is connected on a broader level to the sentiments of crores of people who continue to face this cruel reality every day,' he wrote.
Background: The Haldwani Incident
The controversy originated on 8 August, when a group of individuals allegedly performed a purification ritual at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani shortly after Kharge addressed a public rally there. Kharge subsequently raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, framing it as an affront to Dalit identity and constitutional values.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rejected the allegations, maintaining there was 'no caste angle' to the incident.
FIR Against Rahul Gandhi — Not the Accused
In a notable turn, on 30 August an FIR was registered — not against those who allegedly conducted the ritual, but against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about the 'shuddhikaran' episode. The complaint was filed by Amit Kumar, a member of the Valmiki community, who alleged Gandhi's remarks hurt the sentiments of the Scheduled Caste community. Police invoked provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, including Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(u), along with Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
What Kharge Is Demanding Now
Kharge's letter specifically calls on Nadda to direct Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to ensure the registration of an FIR against those allegedly involved in the ritual. The Congress chief has framed the demand as a constitutional and moral imperative, not merely a political one. With the Uttarakhand government yet to act and an FIR registered against Gandhi instead, the episode is set to intensify the political standoff between the Congress and the BJP ahead of the next legislative session.
Point of View
While those who allegedly performed it remain uncharged after 24 days. That inversion — where speech attracts police action but the act being spoken about does not — is precisely what Kharge is flagging, and it deserves scrutiny beyond partisan lines. The BJP's 'no caste angle' position sits uneasily alongside the historical weight Kharge invokes; the Mahad Satyagraha parallel is not rhetorical flourish but documented precedent. Whether the Uttarakhand government acts on Nadda's response, or whether Nadda responds at all, will be the real indicator of how seriously the Centre takes the constitutional dimension of this complaint.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Haldwani 'shuddhikaran' controversy?
The controversy began on 8 August when a group allegedly performed a 'shuddhikaran' (purification) ritual at Ram Leela Maidan in Haldwani immediately after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally there. Kharge and the Congress have argued the ritual was a caste-based act targeting his identity as a Dalit leader, a charge the BJP has denied.
Why has Kharge written to J.P. Nadda?
Kharge wrote to Nadda on 3 September because no FIR had been registered against those who allegedly conducted the ritual even 24 days after the incident. He urged Nadda to direct the Uttarakhand government and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take immediate action against the individuals and organisations involved.
Has any FIR been filed in the case?
An FIR has been filed, but not against those who conducted the ritual. On 30 August, police registered a case against Rahul Gandhi over his remarks about the 'shuddhikaran' incident, based on a complaint by Amit Kumar of the Valmiki community, invoking the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and BNS Section 196.
What is the Congress's position on 'shuddhikaran' rituals?
Both Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have argued that 'shuddhikaran' is directly associated with untouchability and caste-based discrimination. Kharge cited the Mahad Satyagraha — when Dr B.R. Ambedkar drank from a public tank and was met with a similar purification ritual — as historical evidence that the practice has deep casteist roots.
What has the BJP said about the incident?
The BJP has rejected the Congress's framing, stating that there was 'no caste angle' to the Haldwani incident. The party has not publicly addressed the absence of an FIR against those who allegedly performed the ritual.
