Karnataka Council Passes Resolution Condemning Purification Ritual After Kharge Visit

The Karnataka Legislative Council passed a resolution on Monday condemning a purification ritual performed on a stage used by Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition M. Mallikarjun Kharge. The incident occurred at Ram Lila Maidan in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, where members of the Shri Ram Sena conducted a shuddhikaran, or purification havan, two days after Kharge, who is a Dalit, addressed a rally there. In Parliament, Kharge questioned the BJP and RSS, asking if such actions are taught by their religion and how the Constitution is being protected in a democracy. Union minister and Leader of the House JP Nadda condemned the incident, stating that the BJP does not support such activities and promising an investigation. During the Legislative Council session, Congress members described the act as a public practice of untouchability and questioned the moral right of the BJP to speak about Dalits. The resolution was passed via a voice vote following a motion moved by Congress member F.H. Jakkannanavar. While center and center left reports focus on the political reactions and the legislative resolution, a left leaning report frames the event as part of a structural pattern of caste discrimination in India, citing historical examples of Dalit leaders facing similar purification rituals.