BJP questioned leader of opposition in LS Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue so many days after the alleged purification on Aug 10. NEW DELHI: BJP and Congress clashed Saturday over the opposition party’s allegation that the venue of its rally in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani was “purified” because of the presence of its president Mallikarjun Kharge, with Rahul Gandhi demanding an FIR as he linked it to the unconstitutional practice of untouchability.BJP slammed Rahul’s comments as his usual bid to divide Hindus on different grounds, including caste, and played videos of some of the organisers of the so-called purification exercise to rebut his charge. It also questioned Rahul for raising the issue so many days after the alleged purification on Aug 10.One of the organisers, Ankit Pal, said he was himself a dalit and that a ‘hawan’ was held after the venue was cleaned for Ramlila. The organisers have said they have no link with BJP.At a news conference, Rahul targeted the BJP and RSS over the “purification” and demanded that PM Narendra Modi order an FIR under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against all those involved in the matter. “We are demanding justice for the Congress president and it is the duty of central and state govt to ensure that Kharge ji gets justice in Uttarakhand. Every dalit faces humiliation from birth to death, everywhere, at every step,” he alleged.”Now the ball is in BJP’s court – an FIR must be filed under the SC/ST Act at the earliest, action must be taken, and justice must be served – otherwise, Congress knows very well how to secure justice,” Rahul warned.”If they take action, good. If they don’t take it, then there will be some reaction. These days, inaction has a much bigger reaction,” he said. “We will ensure action is taken against the culprits. Even if BJP fails to act, the entire Congress party will not let them escape…I Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesguarantee it,” he added.BJP fielded its dalit spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan and Sudhanshu Trivedi to counter Rahul. “Rahul always supports forces working to divide society and uses lies to set the narrative,” Paswan said.”The Congress MP jumps from one issue to another but the one theme that runs constantly is his tendency to put Hindus against each other,” Trivedi said. He cited a string of cases of violence against dalits, including in Rajasthan, Haryana and Karnataka, when Congress was in office in these states and accused the party of maintaining silence in incidents where aggressors were members of a particular community. Rahul, in reality, works to strengthen the agenda of Macaulay, Marx and ‘maulana’, he allegedGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash

BJP questioned leader of opposition in LS Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue so many days after the alleged purification on Aug 10. NEW DELHI: BJP and Congress clashed Saturday over the opposition party’s allegation that the venue of its rally in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani was “purified” because of the presence of its president Mallikarjun Kharge, with Rahul Gandhi demanding an FIR as he linked it to the unconstitutional practice of untouchability.BJP slammed Rahul’s comments as his usual bid to divide Hindus on different grounds, including caste, and played videos of some of the organisers of the so-called purification exercise to rebut his charge. It also questioned Rahul for raising the issue so many days after the alleged purification on Aug 10.One of the organisers, Ankit Pal, said he was himself a dalit and that a ‘hawan’ was held after the venue was cleaned for Ramlila. The organisers have said they have no link with BJP.At a news conference, Rahul targeted the BJP and RSS over the “purification” and demanded that PM Narendra Modi order an FIR under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against all those involved in the matter. “We are demanding justice for the Congress president and it is the duty of central and state govt to ensure that Kharge ji gets justice in Uttarakhand. Every dalit faces humiliation from birth to death, everywhere, at every step,” he alleged.”Now the ball is in BJP’s court – an FIR must be filed under the SC/ST Act at the earliest, action must be taken, and justice must be served – otherwise, Congress knows very well how to secure justice,” Rahul warned.”If they take action, good. If they don’t take it, then there will be some reaction. These days, inaction has a much bigger reaction,” he said. “We will ensure action is taken against the culprits. Even if BJP fails to act, the entire Congress party will not let them escape…I Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesguarantee it,” he added.BJP fielded its dalit spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan and Sudhanshu Trivedi to counter Rahul. “Rahul always supports forces working to divide society and uses lies to set the narrative,” Paswan said.”The Congress MP jumps from one issue to another but the one theme that runs constantly is his tendency to put Hindus against each other,” Trivedi said. He cited a string of cases of violence against dalits, including in Rajasthan, Haryana and Karnataka, when Congress was in office in these states and accused the party of maintaining silence in incidents where aggressors were members of a particular community. Rahul, in reality, works to strengthen the agenda of Macaulay, Marx and ‘maulana’, he allegedGet the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosBJP Reprimands Three Delhi MPs Over Visit To Sajjan Kumar’s Home After His DeathKolkata Police Files Case Against Mamata Banerjee Over Rally, TMC Hits Back At BJP Govt | WatchRahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over Kharge ‘Shuddhikaran’, Demands Action Under SC/ST ActPakistani Drones Spotted Along LoC: Indian Army Intensifies Surveillance In J&K | WatchPM Modi’s 4-Day Central Asia Visit: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan & SCO Summit | India’s Diplomatic PushB Nagendra Quits Karnataka Cabinet Amid Valmiki Scam Allegations, Calls Charges Politically DrivenBlast Near Manipur BJP MLA’s House; CM Khemchand Singh Calls Attack ‘Barbaric’Fresh Threat To Kashmiri Pandits: Terror Group ULC Warns Over Reopening Exodus Cases | WatchUS Green Card Wait, USCIS Checks, UK Visas: How Immigration Rules Impact IndiansIndia Plans Javelin Missile Buy From US, Giving Infantry A Battle-Tested Tank-Killing Edge | Watch123PhotostoriesStar Singer: Meet the finalists ahead of the grand finale10 baby names that bring the beauty of the seasons to lifePainful periods, changing cycles and menopause: Which symptoms are normal, which need attention and can protein help?Blueberries vs Grapes: What happens to blood sugar when you eat the whole fruit instead of drinking it?Why do some eggs have double yolks? The science behind it explainedUse an old toothbrush to clean your taps: 7 places this tiny tool can reachStrong bones aren’t just about milk: 7 foods that help support bone density as you age5 things happy couples do before going to bed every nightFrom Kapil Sharma to Krushna Abhishek: Richest Indian comedians and their net worth8 of the smallest birds you can find in India123Hot PicksNepal floodUGC NET June 2026 resultCNG Price HikeMumbai milk priceRRB NTPC UG CBT 2 examAnkit Baliyan murderSridhar VembuDelhi murderInflation dataTop TrendingSophie Cunningham CareerChandigarh MurderSamay RainaUdaipur HotelFlorida Car CrashUS Green Card HolderBengal HospitalTamil Nadu Son MurderElon MuskKanpur Aircraft Crash


Congress & BJP clash over Haldwani ‘purification’ row, Rahul seeks FIR
BJP questioned leader of opposition in LS Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue so many days after the alleged purification on Aug 10.

NEW DELHI: BJP and Congress clashed Saturday over the opposition party’s allegation that the venue of its rally in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani was “purified” because of the presence of its president Mallikarjun Kharge, with Rahul Gandhi demanding an FIR as he linked it to the unconstitutional practice of untouchability.BJP slammed Rahul’s comments as his usual bid to divide Hindus on different grounds, including caste, and played videos of some of the organisers of the so-called purification exercise to rebut his charge. It also questioned Rahul for raising the issue so many days after the alleged purification on Aug 10.One of the organisers, Ankit Pal, said he was himself a dalit and that a ‘hawan’ was held after the venue was cleaned for Ramlila. The organisers have said they have no link with BJP.At a news conference, Rahul targeted the BJP and RSS over the “purification” and demanded that PM Narendra Modi order an FIR under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against all those involved in the matter. “We are demanding justice for the Congress president and it is the duty of central and state govt to ensure that Kharge ji gets justice in Uttarakhand. Every dalit faces humiliation from birth to death, everywhere, at every step,” he alleged.“Now the ball is in BJP’s court – an FIR must be filed under the SC/ST Act at the earliest, action must be taken, and justice must be served – otherwise, Congress knows very well how to secure justice,” Rahul warned.“If they take action, good. If they don’t take it, then there will be some reaction. These days, inaction has a much bigger reaction,” he said. “We will ensure action is taken against the culprits. Even if BJP fails to act, the entire Congress party will not let them escape…I

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