Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday demanded that a case be filed under the Untouchability (Offences) Act and the accused be arrested over a 'purification' ritual carried out at the venue of his rally in Uttarakhand. He said he was not making the matter a political issue.
The ritual, known as 'shuddhikaran', was performed by the Shri Ram Sena after Kharge's rally. Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal alleged that the group had links to the BJP and that the purification was done because Kharge belongs to a Dalit community. The BJP has vehemently denied any connection to the group.
Kharge raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, where the chair sought a probe into the incident. Union minister and BJP leader J.P. Nadda expressed regret over the matter in the House.