NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday joined the political row over the alleged ‘purification’ of a venue after a Congress leader’s visit, recalling that a temple in Kannauj and even his official residence had also been washed with Ganga water by political opponents after his visits.“We ourselves are victims; this has happened to us three times. In Kannauj, a temple was washed with Ganga water after our visit, and our own home was washed with Ganga water. We are positive and progressive people, and we would never do such a thing. We will take the State forward,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.Yadav’s remarks came amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged purification ritual at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a political rally there on August 8, news agency ANI reported.Two days later, members of the right-wing group Shri Ram Sena reportedly conducted a havan and sprinkled gangajal on the stage, describing it as a “purification” exercise.
Kharge raises Haldwani ‘purification’ issue in Parliament
Kharge later raised the issue in Parliament and demanded that those responsible be arrested and booked under the Untouchability (Offences) Act.The incident triggered a political response from the Congress, which condemned the act and alleged that it reflected an “anti-Dalit mindset”. The party also described it as a violation of constitutional protections against untouchability.The organisers, Shri Ram Sena, along with local BJP representatives, however, maintained that the havan had not been conducted because of Kharge’s caste.They said the ritual was performed because religious decorum had allegedly been violated at the Ramlila ground.
FIR registered in Haldwani over purification remarks
On Sunday, Haldwani City Kotwali Police registered an FIR following a complaint regarding public statements made by Gandhi about the alleged purification ritual, also referred to as a “shuddhikaran yajna”, in Haldwani.A tense standoff followed on Monday after Congress leaders and workers, led by Leader of Opposition and MLA Yashpal Arya, staged a protest at the Haldwani Circle Officer’s office against the filing of the FIR.The controversy over the alleged purification ritual has since sparked a wider political exchange, with opposition leaders questioning the conduct and the BJP and organisers defending the ritual on religious grounds.(With agency inputs)
