Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Aug 29: The Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded the Prime Minister Narendra Modi order registration of an FIR under the SC/ST law against those who indulged in “purification” of a public ground in Haldwani in Uttarakhand where the Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public rally there on August 8.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Saturday, Mr Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, said the “purification” exercise was a “crime” under the SC/ST act since Mr Kharge was a dalit. He said Mr Modi must order an FIR in the matter. Mr Kharge had addressed a “Vijay Shankhnaad” rally at Haldwani’s Ramlila ground on August 8. Two days later, members of the Shri Ram Sena reportedly performed the ‘purification’ ritual at the same site.
“We are demanding justice for the Congress president. Give the Congress president justice in Uttarakhand. It is the duty of the central and state governments to ensure that Kharge gets justice,” Mr Gandhi said. “The BJP-RSS people practice untouchability, though it is banned, a crime as per Constitution,” he said, asserting that Mr Kharge “will get justice in Uttarakhand, whether it is today or tomorrow.”
Even though the incident was condemned by the union minister JP Nadda when the issue was raised in the Rajya Sabha by Mr Kharge, the Uttarakhand BJP president had later defended the “purification” process claiming that the Ramlila ground was “defiled” by the slogans raised in the Congress rally and purification was a non-issue unnecessarily raised by the Congress.
Mr Gandhi played the video of Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt defending the ritual, stating ‘the place was polluted with slogans,” and added, “If such a thing can be done against senior person like Mallikarjun Kharge, imagine what can be done to a four-year-old in a school,” he said.
“This incident shows the BJP-RSS’ mindset. They don’t want that Dalits live with dignity and success.” During the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Mr Nadda, the former BJP national president J.P. Nadda and leader of the Rajya Sabha, had condemned the incident, stating that an investigation would be conducted into it.
However, within days of Mr Nadda condemning the “purification” incident, Mr Bhatt had said criticism over the ritual was being exaggerated by the Opposition for political gain. He argued that the sanctity of a religious and cultural venue must be respected by everyone. “Those who have no real issues are the ones who raise matters that only damage and divide the society. Kharge ji’s rally held in Haldwani. The Ramlila Ground there was defiled. At a place where there is a Ram temple, slogans were raised that should not have been raised. The place was polluted, and then it was purified,” said Mr Bhatt.
“The purification was not done against any person belonging to a Scheduled Caste. I can say that Congress leaders are only making a mockery of their own leader. Kharge ji must understand this. Such things should not happen in Devbhoomi (the land of the gods),” Mr Bhatt had said.
Mr Bhatt’s statement was contrary to the stand the BJP had taken on the issue. Mr Nadda had rejected the Congress allegation that the BJP was involved in the “purification” exercise showing its anti-Dalit mindset. Mr Nadda maintained that the BJP did not support such activities, after Mr Kharge demanded the arrest of those behind the purification. The Congress in-charge of Uttarakhand Kumari Selja and PCC chief Ganesh Godhiyal had also accused the BJP of displaying an anti-Dalit mindset.
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on August 19 discussed the issue in detail, during which Mr Kharge expressed his anguish that the issue was not adequately taken up by his party colleagues. “The issue isn’t about me but about the constitutional value of equality,” Mr Kharge was quoted as saying in the CWC meet.
The CWC subsequently demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and action against those involved in the purification ritual. Mr Bhatt accused the Congress of unnecessarily linking the controversy to Scheduled Caste politics.
On being asked about Mr Kharge pointing out in the CWC that not many supported him, Mr Gandhi said, “No that’s not what he said. He said certain people didn’t support. I supported him and a whole lot of other people supported him.” “Our issue is that the Congress President should get justice,” he reiterated.