PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The Congress party organised a massive protest outside the State secretariat on Tuesday to register its protest on the Haldwani ‘purification’ incident. Led by the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ganesh Godiyal, the Congress workers and leaders marched from the Rajiv Bhawan to the State secretariat on the day. The march was however stopped by the police near the Astley hall following which minor skirmish between the party workers and the police occurred.
Addressing the protesters, the PCC president Godiyal said the ‘purification ritual’ held at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan on August 8, 2026, following a massive public rally by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has exposed the BJP’s mind-set. He said that if a democratic political gathering is followed by a religious ritual under the pretext of ‘purifying’ the place, the question isn’t just about Congress, but about India’s Constitution, social equality and democratic values. He said that the State government should conduct an impartial investigation into the Haldwani incident, investigate the role of those allegedly involved in the purification and take strict legal action against the culprits.
The leader of the opposition in Vidhan Sabha, Yashpal Arya, stated that the Haldwani incident not only insults a political party, but also questions the fundamental spirit of social justice and the Constitution. He added that in a democracy, the mentality of labelling a place ‘impure’ on a leader’s social identity or caste after a public meeting is unacceptable.
The chairman of the election campaign committee of State Congress, Pritam Singh said that Uttarakhand has always espoused the message of social harmony and brotherhood, so Congress will stand firmly against such divisive mentality.
The chairman of the election management committee, Harak Singh Rawat said that the people of Uttarakhand have always prioritized democratic values, transcending caste and religion. He said that the Haldwani incident shows that the BJP has become intolerant of its political opponents.
The co- incharge of State Congress, Manoj Yadav said that the insult to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge is a matter related to the sentiments of millions of deprived, Dalit and exploited sections of the country. He said that the Constitution grants equal respect and rights to every citizen, but incidents like ‘purification’ are contrary to that constitutional spirit.
State co-in charge Surendra Sharma said that the Congress demands an impartial investigation into the entire incident and that the perpetrators be prosecuted according to the law.
Congress leaders also criticised the BJP State president and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt for supporting the purification incident.
Harak’s health deteriorates in protest
DEHRADUN: The health of senior Congress leader and chairman of the election management committee Harak Singh Rawat deteriorated during the protest march to the State secretariat on Tuesday. Participating enthusiastically in the protest, Harak was shouting slogans and tried to scale the barricades erected by the police. He however, started sweating and complained of breathlessness following which he was rushed to the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital. He was thoroughly examined by senior doctors KC Pant and Arun Pandey in the emergency wing of the hospital and was discharged after primary treatment.
