BJP slams Rahul Gandhi, Kharge over Haldwani 'shuddhikaran' claims
Synopsis
A purification ritual allegedly performed after a Congress event in Haldwani has ignited a full-scale political war. Rahul Gandhi demanded an FIR; the BJP called it a calculated lie designed to harvest Dalit votes — and said the Valmiki community in Haldwani itself is rejecting Gandhi's version of events.
Key Takeaways
BJP on 29 August accused Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge of lying about an alleged purification ritual at a Congress event in Haldwani, Uttarakhand .
Rahul Gandhi demanded PM Modi order an FIR , calling 'shuddhikaran' equivalent to untouchability and unconstitutional.
BJP leader Gourav Vallabh denied the claims and alleged Gandhi was running a 'political hoax' targeting a specific community's votes.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad and Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal both defended the party's record on Dalit welfare and reservation.
Uttarakhand Ministers Subodh Uniyal and Khajan Das rejected the allegations as 'irrational' and politically motivated to create caste tensions.
Nadda had earlier stated in the Rajya Sabha that the party does not support any such incident.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday, 29 August launched a sharp counter-offensive against Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, accusing both leaders of deliberately spreading falsehoods over an alleged purification ritual said to have taken place at an event addressed by Kharge in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. The BJP categorically denied any involvement and called the controversy a politically motivated attempt to stoke caste divisions.
What Rahul Gandhi Alleged
Earlier on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi publicly claimed that BJP-RSS members had conducted a so-called 'shuddhikaran' (purification) ceremony at the venue following Kharge's address. 'This is done by BJP-RSS members, and it is a crime under the Indian Constitution. The word Shuddhikaran is just another word for untouchability,' Gandhi said, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi direct the filing of an FIR against those allegedly involved in the purported act.
BJP's Rebuttal: 'Jhooth Ki Goonj'
BJP leader Gourav Vallabh hit back sharply, saying: 'It has become Rahul Gandhi's habit to tell lies. All he hears from morning till evening is the Jhooth ki goonj (echo of lies).' Vallabh further said that 'making misleading, false and untrue statements has become his habit, and for this, he has apologised many times before various courts.' He claimed that members of Haldwani's Valmiki community were themselves acknowledging that Gandhi's account was inaccurate and amounted to a 'political hoax to gain the votes of a particular community.'
Senior BJP Leaders Weigh In
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, speaking to reporters, said: 'They are experts at lying. Whether it is Narendra Modi's government or Yogi Adityanath's government, we have shown the greatest respect for Dalits. We have provided them their rightful reservation, according to the Constitution.' Prasad also pointed to new central schemes for Dalit development and progress in the startup sector, accusing Kharge of spreading misinformation.
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal recalled that Kharge had raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha, where BJP's Leader of the House J.P. Nadda had reportedly stood up and stated that the party does not support any such incident. 'He had made it very clear,' Meghwal said.
Uttarakhand Ministers Reject Allegations
Uttarakhand Minister Subodh Uniyal accused Congress of repeatedly invoking caste issues to divide the country for electoral gain. 'By repeatedly speaking about caste-related things, Rahul ji speaks of dividing the country,' he said. Uttarakhand Minister Khajan Das went further, calling the allegation that a purification ceremony was conducted by the BJP at the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani 'irrational,' and asserting: 'The BJP has nothing to do with any purification and distances itself from it.'
What Comes Next
The row signals an intensifying battle over Dalit outreach ahead of upcoming state electoral cycles. With both sides trading accusations, the controversy around the Haldwani event is likely to reverberate in Parliament and on the campaign trail. Whether any formal inquiry or FIR follows remains to be seen.
Point of View
Multi-voice rebuttal — from state ministers to Union ministers to party spokespersons — suggests it sees real electoral risk in the Dalit narrative Congress is constructing. Notably, neither side has yet produced verifiable evidence: no video, no FIR, no independent witness account has been cited in the public domain. That vacuum is precisely what allows both parties to hold their respective positions without accountability. The deeper question — whether caste-based discrimination persists at political events regardless of party affiliation — is being drowned out by the noise of mutual accusation.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Haldwani 'shuddhikaran' controversy?
The controversy centres on an alleged purification ritual said to have been performed at a venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addressed an event there. Rahul Gandhi claimed BJP-RSS members conducted the ritual and called it equivalent to untouchability; the BJP has denied any involvement.
What did Rahul Gandhi demand over the Haldwani incident?
Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi direct the filing of an FIR against those allegedly involved in the purported purification act, calling it a crime under the Indian Constitution.
How did the BJP respond to the allegations?
The BJP categorically denied involvement. Multiple leaders — including Gourav Vallabh, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Uttarakhand ministers — called the claims false and politically motivated, with Vallabh accusing Gandhi of running a 'political hoax' to garner votes from a specific community.
What did J.P. Nadda say about the incident in the Rajya Sabha?
According to Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, BJP's Leader of the House J.P. Nadda stood up in the Rajya Sabha when Kharge raised the matter and clearly stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party does not support any such incident.
Why does this controversy matter politically?
The row reflects an intensifying contest over Dalit outreach ahead of upcoming electoral cycles. Both the BJP and Congress are seeking to position themselves as champions of Dalit rights, making any incident — verified or alleged — a flashpoint for competing narratives on caste and constitutional values.
