Uttarakhand BJP Chief Defends 'Purification' Ritual Performed at Congress President Kharge's Rally Venue
New Delhi: Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Mahendra Bhatt has defended the “purification” ritual that was performed on stage after in Haldwani after Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge had addressed a public meeting.
“Those who have no real issues are the ones who raise matters that only damage and divide the society. Kharge ji’s rally held in Haldwani. The Ramlila Ground there was defiled. At a place where there is a Ram temple, slogans were raised that should not have been raised. The place was polluted, and then it was purified,” said Bhatt after an event in Mussoorie, reported The Hindu.
Bhatt, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, added that the “sanctity” of a religious and cultural venue must be respected by everyone.
“The purification was not done against any person belonging to a Scheduled Caste. I can say that Congress leaders are only making a mockery of their own leader. Kharge ji must understand this. Such things should not happen in Devbhoomi (the land of the gods),” said Bhatt.
Interestingly, while Bhatt defended the “purification” ritual, senior BJP leader and Union minister J.P. Nadda had earlier condemned the incident and said that the incident will be investigated.
The issue came to light after Kharge accused the BJP of insulting him by holding the “purification” ritual.
“I don’t want to make it a political issue ever. And I have been in the parliament for many years. I’m here [in Rajya Sabha] now and previously I was in the Lower House. I have never tried to gain sympathy, I have never asked for help or protection saying that I’m a Scheduled Caste, I’m a Dalit,” Kharge had said in Rajya Sabha on the last day of the Monsoon Session.
“I have the strength to fight. I do fight. Lakhs of people were there at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani. At that time, I did not mention the name of any community or religion; I only reiterated the issues of the government. But after my speech, you [people associated with Bharatiya Janata Party] tried to insult me by doing a purification ritual [on the stage in Haldwani], you made me feel the sting of untouchability. Is this the way in a democracy? How are you protecting the constitution? I am the LoP,” he had said.
Nadda had responded in parliament and said that action would be taken against the wrongdoers.
“Please don’t say repeatedly that we [BJP] did. This is a very sad incident, not just for the Congress but for all of us. BJP does not subscribe to such activities, never. I assure you that whatever happened there will certainly be investigated. The [BJP] national president will look into this. It is a matter of great regret for all of us that your sentiments were hurt,” Nadda had said back then, only to be contradicted now by his own party’s Uttarakhand unit president who has defended the ritual.
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