India's Rajya Sabha chairman orders probe into alleged 'purification' after Congress leader's speech

Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan has directed the government to investigate an alleged incident of "purification of a site" where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public gathering in Uttarakhand. The chairman stated that action must be taken against those found guilty of the act.

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...Those who have done the wrong thing, they will be investigated, they should be caught and they should be punished. There are no two different opinions on this…

Kharge, who is also the leader of the opposition, claimed that some members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conducted a 'havan' or purification ritual at the Ram Lila Maidan stage after his speech. He described the act as a form of social discrimination and questioned its place in a democracy, particularly when directed at the leader of the opposition. Kharge emphasized that he was not making a political issue but called for a case to be filed under the anti-untouchability act.

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I did not take any name of any religion, I was only referring 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… that too, when I am the leader of the opposition.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation. JP Nadda, Leader of the House, stated that the BJP condemns such activities and assured that a probe would be conducted and action taken. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed it the "worst form" of social discrimination under BJP rule. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal accused the BJP of an anti-Dalit character, linking the act to the party's alleged culture of insults.

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The BJP does not subscribe to such activities. The incident is painful not just for the Congress but for all of us…

Chairman Radhakrishnan, who has previously expressed strong views against untouchability, remarked that an insult to Kharge was an insult to everyone. He reiterated that untouchability is a sin and that there is no need for repeated purification rituals. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about social discrimination in India, with political parties calling for strict enforcement of anti-untouchability laws.

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If untouchability is not a sin, then there is no sin in the world… we all condemn untouchability…There is no need for anyone to purify us again and again...”.