The purification controversy that erupted at the Ramlila ground in Haldwani has now transformed into a massive political battleground across the entire state of Uttarakhand. This entire sequence of events, involving Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi, has triggered a major political upheaval in the region. On one hand, the main opposition Congress party is organizing widespread statewide protests, calling the incident an outright insult to the Dalit community and the Constitution, while giving a strict 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw the registered FIR. On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized these allegations, accusing the opposition of unnecessarily giving a casteist color to the matter. Let us understand how the ruling establishment and the opposition are standing face-to-face over this issue.
Congress protests at police headquarters with a 48-hour ultimatum
Anger has been boiling over within the Congress party following the filing of a case under the SC-ST Act and other relevant sections against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Haldwani. In connection with this development, Congress workers staged a forceful demonstration at the police headquarters located in Dehradun. Led by Congress Vice President Suryakant Dhasmana, the workers submitted a formal memorandum to senior police officials and demanded the immediate quashing of the registered FIR. Issuing a stern warning to the police administration, the party gave a 48-hour ultimatum. The party leadership made it clear that if the case registered against Rahul Gandhi is not revoked within 48 hours, Congress will not remain silent, and party workers will take to the streets, taking this entire issue directly to the people's court.
BJP hits back, emphasizing the religious and historical significance of the ground
Rejecting the allegations and protests of the Congress party, the Bharatiya Janata Party has raised strong objections. Tarun Bansal, former treasurer of the Ramlila Committee Haldwani and state general secretary of the BJP, stated that Congress is deliberately trying to give a casteist and political twist to an entirely religious matter. According to Tarun Bansal, Kumaon's biggest daytime Ramlila has been staged at this historic ground in Haldwani for the past 135 years. The religious and emotional significance of this ground is deeply special, and the characters performing on the stage are revered as forms of God. He recalled that major agitations had taken place earlier in 2009 and 2010 as well to maintain the sanctity of this ground. The BJP maintains that this matter is solely and exclusively related to religious faith and the purity of the ground.
Congress anger spreads from Vikasnagar to Almora and Bageshwar
Following directives from the All India Congress Committee, this controversy is no longer confined to Haldwani alone, as formal police complaints are now being submitted across police stations in various districts of the state. The District Congress Committee submitted a written complaint at the Vikasnagar Kotwali. Several prominent leaders were present during this submission, including Election Campaign Committee Chairman and Chakrata MLA Pritam Singh and senior leader Navprabhat. Pritam Singh stated that the alleged purification of the venue after Kharge's meeting is a grave matter permitted neither by the Constitution nor by the law. He warned that if the government fails to take action against the culprits, a massive gherao of the Chief Minister's residence in Dehradun will be staged on the 7th. Meanwhile, in Almora, a large number of Congress workers led by District President Bhupendra Bhoj marched to the Kotwali, warning of staging a sit-in protest inside the premises if an FIR was not lodged against the culprits. Similarly, in Bageshwar, a complaint letter was submitted under the leadership of District Congress President Arjun Bhatt, where the party alleged that a ritualistic fire sacrifice was performed and Gangajal was sprinkled on the ground immediately after Kharge's public meeting, which directly constitutes an insult to the Dalit community.
