Politics
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Kharge raises Haldwani purification row in Rajya Sabha
Times of India··13 Aug
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told the Rajya Sabha on August 13 that a havan was held at Haldwani's Ram Lila Ground after his August 8 rally, which he called a purification aimed at him. He said he named no community in the speech. Union minister J P Nadda condemned the act and said the BJP does not subscribe to it.
Prism
What It Means For You
- If you follow Rajya Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition put a local Haldwani ritual on the national record, and the Leader of the House condemned it.
- Residents of Haldwani can note two dates: Kharge's August 8 meeting and the August 10 havan at the same Ram Lila Ground.
- Anyone watching party discipline can see Nadda promising an investigation while a BJP state minister has already denied organisational involvement.
What's Happening
- Kharge told the House a havan was performed to purify the Haldwani stage after his public meeting, and asked how the Constitution was being protected.
- Nadda said the reported incident was sad, that the BJP does not subscribe to such activities, and that it would be investigated.
- The organisers said the ground has religious significance and objected to its use for politics; Congress and BJP state units traded blame.
Why a Maidan Ritual Reached the Upper House
- Ram Lila grounds are often used both for seasonal religious events and for political rallies, which is why a post-speech havan can be read as either booking or insult.
- Kharge is both Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, so a local slight becomes a parliamentary privilege-style complaint.
- State Congress linked the ritual to the BJP; the state BJP spokesperson instead criticised slogans from the August 8 rally as having hurt Sanatan sentiment.
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