New Delhi, August 31, 2026: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has been booked in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani over remarks he made about a controversial “purification” ritual conducted at a venue where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a public meeting earlier this month. The FIR has added a fresh legal and political dimension to an already heated dispute between the Congress and BJP.
The case was registered at Haldwani City Kotwali Police Station on the basis of a complaint filed by Amit Kumar, a member of the Valmiki community and an office-bearer of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas. The complainant alleged that Gandhi’s remarks gave a caste-based interpretation to the religious ritual and hurt the sentiments of members of the Scheduled Caste community.
The controversy began after Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani on August 8. A few days later, members of a local organisation reportedly carried out a cleanliness drive and a “shuddhikaran havan”, or purification ritual, at the same venue. The Congress objected to the ceremony and alleged that it was linked to Kharge’s identity as a Dalit leader.
Kharge subsequently raised the matter publicly and demanded action against those responsible for the alleged purification ceremony. Congress leaders argued that the incident represented discrimination and raised concerns over caste-based attitudes. The BJP and organisers of the ritual, however, rejected the caste-related interpretation. They said the ceremony was conducted after cleaning the venue and denied that it was connected to Kharge’s caste.
Rahul Gandhi intensified the issue during a press conference in New Delhi on August 29. He criticised the alleged ritual and demanded that an FIR be registered against those responsible under provisions of the SC/ST Act. Gandhi described the incident as an example of untouchability and called for legal action.
The complaint against Gandhi argues that his statements were based on what the complainant described as incomplete or incorrect information. Amit Kumar said members of the Scheduled Caste community had themselves participated in the cleaning and ritual at the venue. He alleged that Gandhi’s comments unfairly portrayed participants as supporters of untouchability and caused damage to the community’s sentiments.
Police have invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Reports identify BNS provisions concerning the promotion of enmity between groups and acts allegedly intended to outrage religious feelings among the sections cited in the case. The investigation is now underway.
The FIR has triggered a strong response from the Congress. Party leaders have accused the BJP-led government of targeting Gandhi after he demanded action over the original controversy. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal criticised the FIR and announced that party workers would hold protests across the country, describing the case as an attack on constitutional values and social justice.
The BJP, meanwhile, has defended the ritual and rejected the Congress’s allegation that it was motivated by caste. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also denied the allegations of discriminatory intent, while organisers have maintained that the ceremony was related to cleaning and restoring the venue.
With the FIR now registered, the Haldwani dispute has moved beyond political statements and into the legal process. Police will examine the complaint, Gandhi’s remarks and the circumstances surrounding the purification ritual before determining the next steps.
The controversy is likely to remain politically significant as both parties continue to debate caste, social justice, religious practices and political accountability in Uttarakhand. For now, the investigation into the FIR against Rahul Gandhi continues, while the Congress has signalled that it intends to challenge the case politically and legally.
