BJP and Congress Clash Over Haldwani Purification Ritual Ahead of Elections

Political tensions have escalated in Uttarakhand following a purification ritual, known as a shuddhikaran havan, conducted by the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani. The ritual took place on August 11, three days after Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge held a rally at the same venue. The Congress party has demanded police action and the arrest of those involved, alleging the act was targeted at Mr. Kharge because he belongs to the Dalit community. Mr. Kharge also raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, calling for charges under laws dealing with untouchability. An FIR was lodged in the matter on September 8, and police previously filed an FIR against Rahul Gandhi for his remarks regarding the event.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin responded to the controversy during a state executive committee meeting in Haldwani, calling the row a divisive conspiracy by the Congress party. Mr. Nabin accused the Congress of exploiting the episode for political gain and questioned the party's historical record regarding Dalit icons such as B.R. Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram. He further alleged that slogans associated with a specific religion were raised at the site and cited incidents in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Kerala to argue that the Congress lacks moral standing on Dalit welfare.

Both parties are viewing the controversy through the lens of upcoming elections. The BJP is confident in its 2027 prospects in Uttarakhand, where it previously won a majority of SC reserved seats. Analysts note that the outcome of this row could influence Dalit voters not only in Uttarakhand but also in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, where Scheduled Caste populations are electorally significant.