Pune Congress Protests ‘Purification’ Ritual at Venue After Mallikarjun Kharge’s Haldwani Meeting
Pune, 14th August 2026: The Pune city unit of the Congress on Friday staged a protest against the alleged “purification” ritual carried out with Gangajal at a venue in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, after a meeting addressed by Congress president and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.
The protest was led by Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal at the Rani of Jhansi statue in Balgandharva Chowk. Congress workers held placards carrying slogans against untouchability and discrimination and in support of equality.
The party alleged that right-wing Hindutva organisations carried out the ritual on the grounds that the venue had been “defiled” because Kharge, a Dalit leader, had addressed a meeting there.
“This is highly condemnable. Mallikarjun Kharge is a senior national leader who has risen through immense hardship and has served in several positions through his organisational ability and political experience,” Sapkal said.
He said the incident reflected a “Manuwadi mindset” and was contrary to the principles of equality and dignity guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar fought against untouchability and discrimination and gave the country a Constitution that ensured justice for the poor, working classes and backward sections. The Congress will never accept any attempt to undermine the dignity and equality guaranteed by the Constitution,” Sapkal said.
He demanded that the Uttarakhand government take legal action against those responsible for the ritual, warning that the Congress would intensify its agitation if no action was taken.
Pune Congress leaders and office-bearers, including former ministers Vishwajeet Kadam and Yashomati Thakur, city unit leaders Deepti Chaudhary and Prashant Jagtap, and several party workers, participated in the protest.
