Spokespersons: Kumari Selja, Shri Ganesh Godiyal, Shri Yashpal Arya, and Shri Gurdeep Sappal: They strongly condemned the ‘purification’ of the rally venue in Haldwani after a public meeting addressed by Party President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, saying the incident reflected the ‘anti-Dalit mindset’ of the BJP and RSS, and had shamed Uttarakhand. They termed the incident a ‘grave insult’ to the entire Dalit community.

The Congress leaders demanded an immediate FIR and strict legal action against those involved. They also sought an impartial probe by the Union Home Ministry, saying it must discharge its constitutional responsibility. The Party said that it would continue its fight against such ‘casteist thinking’ from the streets to Parliament.

AICC General Secretary In-charge Kumari Selja said that when the BJP is unable to act openly, it pushes forward ‘anarchic elements’, whose actions expose the party’s real mindset. She alleged that the administration and the ruling establishment had made every possible effort to undermine Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Dehradun and Kharge Ji’s rally in Haldwani, but both events were successful because of the strong public response. “After Kharge Ji’s programme, the venue was ‘purified’. This is proof of the anti-Dalit mindset of the BJP-RSS,” Selja said.

PCC President Shri Ganesh Godiyal condemned the incident and said that BJP workers conducting a havan at the venue where Kharge ji had addressed the public reflected the BJP’s narrow mindset and had shamed the entire state of Uttarakhand. He urged members of the Scheduled Castes to recognise the BJP’s hatred towards them and not support the party.

The Congress leaders demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami respond to the incident and that those responsible be brought to justice. Thursday, August 13, 2026