BJP says 'no caste angle' in Haldwani incident, accuses Rahul Gandhi of playing divisive politics

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi strongly condemned an alleged 'purification' ritual that took place at Haldwani's Ramlila Ground following a rally by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Gandhi described the incident as a form of untouchability and a blatant violation of constitutional principles. In a social media post, Gandhi linked the act to the broader discrimination faced by Dalits across the nation, emphasizing that caste-based humiliation starts from birth and continues until death.

The ritual, held two days after Kharge's rally, was seen by Gandhi as a targeted attack on Kharge, who is a Dalit, under the guise of purification.

Gandhi argued that untouchability is a punishable offense under the Constitution and questioned why no action has been taken despite 20 days having passed since the incident. He demanded that the authorities file an FIR under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and take appropriate legal action against the perpetrators. Gandhi also directly accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of promoting an "anti-Dalit ideology" that is evident across the country.

In a video accompanying his post, Gandhi highlighted instances of alleged discrimination against Dalits in various social settings, emphasizing that their voices only grow louder as they face increasing attacks. Gandhi argued that the Haldwani incident should be seen as part of a larger pattern of caste discrimination. The Congress leader's comments have reignited the political discourse surrounding the purification ritual and the need for action under laws that protect Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.