Bhopal, Aug 30 (IANS) The alleged purification of the venue by sprinkling Ganga water after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s rally in Haldwani (Uttarakhand) has now become a political issue in Madhya Pradesh.
On Sunday, leaders and workers of the state Congress Scheduled Castes Department reached the MP Nagar police station in Bhopal and lodged a formal complaint, demanding that an FIR be registered against those involved and action be taken under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Congress leaders have alleged that after Kharge’s public meeting concluded in Haldwani, individuals associated with the BJP and RSS arrived at the venue and sprinkled Ganga water on the stage and grounds, claiming to purify the site. The party has strongly objected to the act, describing it as an expression of social discrimination and a mentality rooted in “untouchability.”
In their written application submitted to the police, the complainants stated that purifying a stage or venue after a leader’s rally is socially objectionable. They alleged that such an act promotes “untouchability and discrimination” against members of the Scheduled Castes.
The Congress Scheduled Castes Department has demanded that the Bhopal Police thoroughly investigate the matter, register a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and take strict legal action against those responsible.
Among those who filed the complaint were state president of the Scheduled Castes Department Pradeep Ahirwar, state spokesperson Abhinav Baroliya, state vice president and office in-charge Mukesh Bansal, organisation general secretary Ramesh Chandra Bakoria, state secretaries Jagdish Rohar and Mahesh Verma, and district president Neeraj Chandale, along with a large number of party workers.
The controversy stems from Mallikarjun Kharge’s public meeting held in Haldwani.
According to the Congress, after the gathering ended, certain individuals reached the venue and performed the alleged purification ritual by sprinkling Ganga water.
The party’s scheduled castes department in Madhya Pradesh has now sought police intervention, insisting that the incident reflects deep-seated prejudice and must be dealt with firmly under the law.
–IANS
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