The controversy surrounding the alleged 'purification' ritual performed at the Ramlila Ground in Haldwani following a public rally addressed by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has reached the High Court. A public interest litigation has been filed in the Uttarakhand High Court by Dehradun-based social activist Baijnath, expressing serious concern over the incident and requesting directions to preserve all related electronic and documentary evidence.
Hearing Scheduled for September 7
The petition is likely to come up for hearing in the High Court on September 7. According to the petition, following Mallikarjun Kharge's rally at the Ramlila Ground, an alleged 'purification' ritual involving the chanting of Vedic mantras and the sprinkling of Ganga water was carried out at the exact same venue.
Request to Secure Evidence and CCTV Footage
The petitioner argues that such actions in a public place have the potential to generate social unrest and tension. The petition urges the court to issue directives to preserve all electronic and documentary evidence concerning the event. This includes video recordings of the public meeting, footage of activities that took place at the venue after the event, and recordings from CCTV cameras installed in and around the area.
Information Sought Under RTI
The petitioner stated that details regarding the incident have also been formally sought under the Right to Information (RTI) Act to ascertain the complete truth and exact circumstances surrounding the alleged ritual.
Kharge Writes to JP Nadda
Meanwhile, Mallikarjun Kharge termed the purification of the rally venue as an incident of untouchability and wrote a letter to Union Minister J.P. Nadda, urging him to direct Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to register an FIR in the matter. He also stated that Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan would be approached regarding the episode.
Kharge Questions Silence of Top Leaders
In his letter to the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, J.P. Nadda, Mallikarjun Kharge also questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. He expressed surprise that even 24 days after the 'purification' incident, no action has been taken, while conversely, a case was registered against Rahul Gandhi while he continuously raises the voice of Dalits.
