‘BJP ideology’ root cause of Kharge ‘shuddhikaran’ row, alleges Congress MP Shashi Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has accused the BJP's leadership and ideology as the root cause behind the "shuddhikaran" (purification) ritual that took place at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani following party president Mallikarjun Kharge's visit. Tharoor emphasized that the underlying problem lies with the "deeply entrenched, discriminatory mindset" of the BJP leadership.

He highlighted that this incident is not just a political dispute, but a broader issue affecting Dalit citizens across India. Tharoor stated that "Justice for Kharge Ji is Justice for All Dalits" and vowed that the Congress would not remain silent on the matter. He also rejected attempts to justify the ritual by using terms like "shuddhikaran" or "safai", arguing that performing a purification ritual after a prominent Dalit leader's presence is an act of untouchability, unconstitutional and a punishable offense under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Tharoor demanded justice, accountability, and concrete action, pointing out that "A crime under the Constitution remains a crime regardless of how it is packaged."