Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut has launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh over a controversial incident in Uttarakhand. Reacting strongly to reports that a stage used by Congress national president Mallikagrun Kharge for a public rally in Haldwani was subjected to a ritual purification ceremony involving havan and prayers, Raut asserted that legal action under atrocities laws should be initiated against those responsible.
Demand for Action Over Stage Purification
Interacting with the media, Raut highlighted that atrocities against Dalits and deep-seated caste discrimination continue to plague the country. Referring to Mallikarjun Kharge as a veteran leader and the head of the principal opposition party, Raut maintained that if people belonging to the ruling dispensation perform purification rituals on a platform where Kharge delivered a speech, it amounts to an offense, and criminal cases should be registered against such individuals. He skeptically added that the ruling party would never initiate a case against its own supporters for such acts.
Echoes of Rahul Gandhi Stance
This political friction follows strong remarks made by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who termed the purification of the Haldwani venue a grave crime and a manifestation of untouchability. Rahul Gandhi had earlier demanded an immediate First Information Report under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the culprits, setting off a wider political debate on caste attitudes.
Weighing In On Mohan Bhagwat Remarks
Shifting focus to international forums, Sanjay Raut also commented on recent statements made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during his visit to New York. Bhagwat had addressed more than 180 participants from 30 countries at the 'One World, One Humanity' event, where he fielded questions regarding the organization's perspective on Muslims. Recalling an interaction with Muslim participants in Delhi back in 2018, Bhagwat had stated that anyone who harbors hatred toward Muslims or wishes to see them expelled from India ceases to be a Hindu, adding that true Hinduism requires recognizing the dignity of every human being and rejecting discrimination.
A Call to Educate Cadres at Home
While acknowledging the significance of Bhagwat's remarks abroad, Raut insisted that the RSS chief must deliver the exact same message within India. He suggested that Bhagwat ought to convey this ideology to members of his organization who hold power in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, as well as individuals inducted from outside into parties in Maharashtra who make divisive statements. Raut proposed that the RSS leadership should conduct ideological and contemplative training sessions to educate such cadres and align them with principles of harmony.
