Opposition parties, led by the Indian National Congress, on Thursday, 13 August accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of orchestrating the alleged 'purification' of a venue used by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, calling it a 'matter of great shame' for the nation. The controversy erupted on the final day of Parliament's Monsoon Session, after Kharge raised the purported incident in the Rajya Sabha.

What the Alleged Incident Involves

According to opposition leaders, the venue where Kharge — a prominent Dalit leader and the national president of the Congress — had held an event in Haldwani was reportedly 'purified' afterwards, an act they described as a direct expression of untouchability. The BJP and RSS have not publicly responded to the specific allegations as of the time of reporting. The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from multiple opposition parties ahead of Independence Day on 15 August.

What Opposition Leaders Said

Congress MP Kumari Selja called it 'a matter of shame for the BJP-RSS and their ideology,' arguing that while the ruling side organises 'Tiranga Yatras,' the constitutional principle of equality is being violated. She said it is not the venue that requires purification, 'but the mindset behind such actions,' and demanded that 'Uttarakhand be purified of this ideology, this mentality, and this discriminatory thinking.'

Azad Samaj Party-Kanshi Ram chief and MP Chandrashekhar Azad demanded government accountability, asking: 'How long will Dalits, backwards, tribals, and religious minorities have to endure such insult in this country?' He added that caste-based insults would not be tolerated across party lines.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha connected the incident to a broader pattern, stating: 'It is a matter of great shame...we will celebrate Independence Day on August 15 but what has the country been reduced to? The cruelty of the caste system that prevailed during the medieval age is prevalent even today.'

Congress Calls for Chief Minister's Response

Congress MP Rajeev Shukla described the alleged incident as 'very unfortunate' and urged Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to address it directly. Congress MP Tariq Anwar questioned how Scheduled Castes and Dalits could be integrated into the national mainstream if feelings of untouchability and discrimination persisted more than 70 years after Independence. Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi alleged that the BJP 'cannot tolerate that such a prominent Dalit leader held an event in Haldwani,' calling the alleged act a reflection of the party's attitude toward Dalits and backward communities.

Other Parties Weigh In

All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kirti Azad broadened the attack, saying: 'RSS, VHP, and BJP should purify their own conscience.' He also referenced what he called 'donation theft,' framing the alleged incident as consistent with a pattern of behaviour he attributed to the ruling establishment. This is not the first time caste-linked controversies have surfaced in the context of senior Dalit political figures, and the timing — on the eve of Independence Day and the last day of the Monsoon Session — has amplified the political charge around the incident.

With Parliament's Monsoon Session now concluded, the opposition is expected to carry the issue into the public domain ahead of the Independence Day address.