Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, 13 August raised a charged issue in the Rajya Sabha, alleging that BJP-linked individuals had 'purified' a Ramlila stage in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after he addressed a public gathering there — an act he directly linked to the practice of untouchability. The allegation triggered repeated disruptions and noisy protests, dominating proceedings in the upper house.

Kharge's Allegation and Its Significance

Kharge, who holds the post of Leader of Opposition, stated that his speech at the Haldwani event had addressed only the concerns of ordinary citizens and made no reference to any religion or community. Despite this, he alleged, individuals associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) subsequently performed a ritual 'purification' of the stage — an act he characterised as a direct affront to his Dalit identity.

Speaking with visible anguish, Kharge said he neither sought protection nor wished to politicise the matter, but asserted that he possessed the resolve to resist such insults. By invoking untouchability, he placed the incident within a broader constitutional and social context — one that carries deep resonance in Indian public life.

BJP Response: Nadda Condemns, Promises Inquiry

Leader of the House and BJP president J.P. Nadda responded by calling the incident painful — not merely for the Congress, but for everyone. He categorically stated that the BJP did not endorse such acts, condemned them strongly, and assured the House that both the party and the government would investigate and take appropriate action.

Notably, Nadda's swift condemnation is significant given that the alleged perpetrators are reported to have BJP affiliations. Whether the promised inquiry yields accountability will be closely watched.

Chairman's Intervention

Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan intervened with unusually direct remarks. 'If untouchability is not a sin, there is no sin in this world. We all condemn it, irrespective of parties. There is no need to purify ourselves again and again,' he said, urging the government to identify and punish those responsible. The intervention from the Chair underscored the gravity of the allegation cutting across party lines.

House Business: Mines Bill Taken Up Amid Uproar

With 13 August being the final day of the session, the House dispensed with Zero Hour and Question Hour to take up the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, as passed by the Lok Sabha. Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy moved the Bill for consideration, while Tiruchi Siva moved an amendment. A notice of disapproval filed by Praveen Chakravarty was declined by the Chair on procedural grounds.

Opposition members continued raising slogans — including on the Ram Temple issue — and demanded the presence of the Home Minister, even as debate on the Bill proceeded. Earlier in the session, ministers from several portfolios laid papers on the Table, and statements on the implementation status of parliamentary committee reports covering MSME, DoPT, Information and Broadcasting, and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region were also made. Shripad Yesso Naik tabled a CAG report on the capacity expansion of hydro central public sector enterprises.

What Happens Next

With the session now concluded, the BJP's promised investigation into the Haldwani stage incident will unfold outside Parliament. Civil society groups and Dalit rights organisations are expected to closely monitor whether the inquiry results in any punitive action. The episode is likely to remain a flashpoint in the lead-up to upcoming state elections.