Kharge rally venue 'purification' row: Congress SC wing files Bhopal complaint under Atrocities Act
Synopsis
After Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally in Haldwani, individuals allegedly linked to the BJP and RSS reportedly sprinkled Ganga water to 'purify' the venue — an act Congress has framed as untouchability. The party's SC wing has now escalated the row to Bhopal police, demanding an FIR under the SC/ST Atrocities Act.
Key Takeaways
Congress Scheduled Castes Department filed a complaint at MP Nagar police station, Bhopal on 30 August .
Complaint demands an FIR under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against those who allegedly 'purified' the venue.
Individuals allegedly affiliated with BJP and RSS reportedly sprinkled Ganga water on the stage after Mallikarjun Kharge 's Haldwani rally.
Congress has described the act as promoting untouchability and caste discrimination .
Neither BJP nor RSS had issued a public response as of the complaint filing.
The Congress Scheduled Castes Department in Madhya Pradesh filed a formal complaint at the MP Nagar police station in Bhopal on Sunday, 30 August, demanding an FIR against individuals allegedly involved in 'purifying' a rally venue with Ganga water after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public meeting in Haldwani, Uttarakhand. The party has sought action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, calling the alleged ritual an act of caste discrimination rooted in the practice of untouchability.
What Allegedly Happened in Haldwani
According to Congress, after Kharge's public meeting concluded in Haldwani, certain individuals allegedly affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) arrived at the venue and sprinkled Ganga water on the stage and surrounding grounds. The Congress has characterised the act as a deliberate effort to 'purify' a space used by a Dalit leader, describing it as a visible expression of social discrimination.
The Bhopal Complaint: Who Filed It and What They Demanded
A delegation of Congress leaders submitted a written application to the MP Nagar police station, demanding that the police register a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and take strict legal action against those responsible. Among the complainants were state SC Department president Pradeep Ahirwar, state spokesperson Abhinav Baroliya, state vice president and office in-charge Mukesh Bansal, organisation general secretary Ramesh Chandra Bakoria, state secretaries Jagdish Rohar and Mahesh Verma, and district president Neeraj Chandale, along with a large number of party workers.
Congress Frames It as an Untouchability Issue
In their written application, the complainants argued that 'purifying' a public venue after a scheduled caste leader's rally is socially objectionable and promotes discrimination. The Congress SC Department has insisted the incident reflects deep-seated prejudice and must be addressed firmly under the law. This is not the first time allegations of symbolic caste discrimination at political events have surfaced in Indian politics — such incidents have periodically drawn legal and public scrutiny, particularly under the SC/ST Atrocities Act framework.
BJP and RSS Yet to Respond Publicly
As of the filing of this complaint, neither the BJP nor the RSS had issued a public statement addressing the Congress allegations. The Bhopal Police had not confirmed whether an FIR had been registered. The matter is expected to escalate politically, given that it intersects Dalit identity, religious symbolism, and party rivalry ahead of ongoing electoral cycles in several states.
Point of View
Even at explicitly political spaces. Congress has been swift to route this through the SC/ST Atrocities Act, which carries significant legal weight but is also frequently invoked as a political instrument. The BJP and RSS have not responded, which leaves the factual record incomplete. What is notable is that the complaint was filed in Bhopal, not Uttarakhand — signalling that Congress intends to amplify the issue across state lines, particularly in a state where Dalit voter consolidation has direct electoral consequences. Whether police register an FIR will be the real test of institutional response.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'purification' controversy linked to Mallikarjun Kharge's Haldwani rally?
After Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held a public rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, individuals allegedly affiliated with the BJP and RSS reportedly sprinkled Ganga water on the stage and venue grounds. Congress has characterised this as a deliberate act of 'purification' targeting a Dalit leader, framing it as an expression of untouchability.
Where was the complaint filed and under which law?
The complaint was filed at the MP Nagar police station in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on 30 August. The Congress Scheduled Castes Department has demanded an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which prescribes strict penalties for acts of caste-based discrimination.
Who filed the Bhopal complaint?
The complaint was filed by leaders of the Madhya Pradesh Congress Scheduled Castes Department, including state president Pradeep Ahirwar, state spokesperson Abhinav Baroliya, state vice president Mukesh Bansal, organisation general secretary Ramesh Chandra Bakoria, state secretaries Jagdish Rohar and Mahesh Verma, and district president Neeraj Chandale, accompanied by party workers.
Have the BJP or RSS responded to the allegations?
As of the filing of the complaint, neither the BJP nor the RSS had issued a public statement addressing the Congress allegations. The Bhopal Police had also not confirmed whether an FIR had been registered.
Why does this incident carry political significance beyond Uttarakhand?
The complaint was filed in Madhya Pradesh rather than Uttarakhand, signalling Congress's intent to amplify the issue across state lines. Dalit voter consolidation is electorally significant in MP, making the incident a flashpoint in a broader contest over caste identity and political symbolism.
