Rajya Sabha chairman CP Radha Krishnan on Thursday instructed the government to conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged “purification of a site” where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a gathering in Uttarakhand and said action must be taken against the guilty.
The instruction came after Kharge spoke about the issue in the Upper House. He said some “BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] people” carried out the purification at Haldwani’s Ram Lila Maidan, where he addressed the gathering.
The BJP is in power in Uttarakhand, which is due to go to polls next year.
Kharge said he did not take the name of any religion, and only referred to problems being faced by people. “…but some BJP people conducted a havan at the stage and shuddikaran [purification]…is this the way in a democracy… I am the leader of the Opposition [in Rajya Sabha],” he said.
Kharge said he is not making it a political issue, but a case under the Untouchability (Offences) Act should be filed against the accused, and they should be arrested.
Untouchability is outlawed, and practising it in any form is a punishable offence.
Kharge said he has been in this House for years and never said he is a Scheduled Caste, a Dalit, and needs protection. “I am capable of fighting …” he said.
Amid shouting from both sides, Union minister and the House leader JP Nadda said the BJP condemns the incident. “The BJP does not subscribe to such activities. The incident is painful not just for the Congress but for all of us…”
As the Opposition continued to protest, Nadda said an investigation will be conducted and assured the House that action will be taken. “We condemn this, and this is a regrettable issue for all of us,” Nadda said. He objected to Kharge using the term “you people” while referring to the incident.
Krishnan said an insult to Kharge was an insult to everyone. “If untouchability is not a sin, then there is no sin in the world… we all condemn untouchability…all are purified and no need for anyone to purify us again and again…” He then directed the government to investigate and punish the guilty.
Congress Uttarakhand’s unit on Wednesday alleged that people linked to the ruling BJP carried out the purification ritual on the stage after Kharge’s address.
