Row erupts over ‘shuddhikaran’ of venue after Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal alleged that the Shri Ram Sena, which conducted the ritual, had links to the BJP and the purification was done because Mr. Kharge is a Dalit
A recent dispute has erupted in Uttarakhand over the 'shuddhikaran' (purification) ceremony held at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani following a rally by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Ganesh Godiyal, the Uttarakhand Congress president, accused the Shri Ram Sena, who conducted the ritual, of having connections with the BJP and claimed the ceremony was motivated by Kharge's Dalit identity.
Godiyal condemned the BJP for promoting caste-based divisions and criticized volunteers who described Kharge as an anti-Hindu figure who denied the existence of Ram. The BJP rejected the allegations, denying any link with the organisation and accusing the Congress of using the controversy for political gain. The BJP's state spokesperson, Khajan Das, defended the purification, stating that slogans raised during the rally offended those who follow Sanatan Dharma and criticized the opposition's historical stance on Sanatan traditions.
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- 'You treat me as untouchable': Kharge raises Haldwani 'suddhikaran' row in RS; BJP, Congress spar timesofindia.indiatimes.com
