Shuddhikaran row: CM Dhami says no caste bias in Uttarakhand, hits Congress
Synopsis
A purification ritual at a Haldwani Ramlila ground after Congress chief Kharge's rally has ignited a sharp BJP-Congress clash over caste politics. CM Dhami insists the BJP had no role and calls Congress 'issueless'; Rahul Gandhi demands an FIR under the SC/ST Atrocities Act — setting up a charged political confrontation ahead of electoral season.
Key Takeaways
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on 29 August said those who performed the shuddhikaran ritual at Haldwani's Ramlila ground were not BJP office-bearers or workers.
Dhami attributed the purification programme to religious organisations protesting alleged desecration and provocative slogans at the venue.
He accused Congress of becoming 'issueless' and pursuing appeasement politics for electoral gain.
Rahul Gandhi demanded an FIR against those involved and urged action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act .
Gandhi framed the episode as a clash between the Constitution and the RSS-BJP's ideology.
Dhami cited Congress's historical treatment of Sitaram Kesri , Babu Jagjivan Ram , and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar to counter caste-bias allegations.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday, 29 August distanced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the 'shuddhikaran' (purification) controversy in Haldwani, asserting that those who conducted the ritual at the Ramlila ground were neither BJP office-bearers nor party workers. The controversy erupted after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally at the venue.
What Dhami Said About the Ritual
Speaking to reporters, CM Dhami stated that the purification programme was organised by religious organisations — not the BJP — in protest against what he described as religiously provocative slogans and an alleged act of desecration at the Ramlila venue. 'The way religious fanatic slogans were raised there, and the defilement was done there... It was a pure place, a religious place where Ramlila is staged,' he said. He attributed the slogans and alleged desecration to 'people of a particular religion,' without naming any group.
Dhami's Charge: Congress Has Become 'Issueless'
The Chief Minister accused the Congress of manufacturing a controversy for electoral advantage. 'In protest against this, religious organisations organised a purification programme there. And in this, I feel that the Congress party has become issueless. Now, they are raising unnecessary issues,' Dhami said. He questioned whether any resident of Uttarakhand would acknowledge caste discrimination in the state, framing the controversy as a politically motivated narrative.
BJP's Record on Dalit Inclusion, Per Dhami
Dhami invoked the BJP-led Centre's governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas' framework as evidence of inclusive politics. He contrasted this with what he characterised as the Congress's historical treatment of Dalit leaders, specifically referencing former Congress president Sitaram Kesri, former Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram, and Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. 'They were never allowed to receive the Bharat Ratna, nor were they allowed to enter Parliament,' Dhami alleged, referring to Ambedkar.
Rahul Gandhi's Counter-Demand
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on the same day demanded that PM Modi direct the filing of an FIR against those allegedly involved in the purification of the Ramlila ground. Gandhi framed the episode as part of a broader ideological contest — 'the Constitution on one side and the views of the RSS-BJP on the other' — and urged the government to initiate action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He also called for justice for Kharge.
The Wider Political Context
The Haldwani episode has sharpened the caste-politics fault line ahead of upcoming electoral cycles in Uttarakhand. Congress has sought to use Kharge's identity as a Dalit leader to frame the purification ritual as a caste-based slight, while the BJP maintains the act was a religious response to provocation, not a targeted insult. Notably, Dhami acknowledged Kharge's seniority, saying, 'He is a respected leader, with many ministers and chief ministers of several states standing behind him,' even as he rejected the Congress narrative. How the controversy plays out in the state's political landscape will depend on whether independent investigation corroborates either side's account.
Point of View
Rather than a caste act, is legally and politically significant: if investigators find no SC/ST Atrocities Act violation, Congress loses its strongest lever. But Rahul Gandhi's demand for an FIR keeps the pressure on the state government to act or be seen as shielding the perpetrators. Uttarakhand has long projected itself as a state above caste faultlines, yet the speed with which this controversy escalated to the national stage suggests that self-image is more fragile than Dhami's confident dismissal implies.
NationPress
29 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shuddhikaran controversy in Haldwani?
The controversy centres on a purification ritual performed at a Ramlila ground in Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held a public rally there. Critics, including Rahul Gandhi, allege the ritual amounted to caste-based discrimination against Kharge, who is a Dalit leader. The BJP and CM Dhami deny any caste intent, attributing the ritual to religious organisations protesting alleged desecration at the venue.
What did CM Dhami say about the purification ritual?
CM Dhami stated that those who conducted the shuddhikaran were neither BJP office-bearers nor party workers, and that religious organisations organised the programme in protest against provocative slogans and alleged desecration of a religious venue. He rejected the caste-discrimination framing and accused Congress of raising the issue for electoral benefit.
What action has Rahul Gandhi demanded over the Haldwani incident?
Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi direct the filing of an FIR against those involved in the purification of the Ramlila ground. He also urged the government to initiate action under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, framing the episode as part of a broader conflict between constitutional values and RSS-BJP ideology.
Who is Mallikarjun Kharge and why is his identity central to this row?
Mallikarjun Kharge is the president of the Indian National Congress and a prominent Dalit leader. Congress argues that the purification ritual performed after his rally at the Ramlila ground was a deliberate caste-based act targeting him. The BJP disputes this characterisation entirely.
Could legal action be taken under the SC/ST Atrocities Act in this case?
Rahul Gandhi has demanded that an FIR be registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Whether such action is warranted depends on whether investigators establish that the ritual was directed at Kharge on account of his caste — a factual and legal determination that has not yet been made.
