Calling it a “divisive conspiracy”, BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday (September 9, 2026) launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party for allegedly creating controversy surrounding the “shuddhikaran” (purification) ritual performed at the rally venue of Mallikarjun Kharge.

Addressing the BJP State working committee meeting in Haldwani, Mr. Nabin said, “From this very soil of Haldwani, the Congress national president played a political game and hatched a conspiracy which reflects his divisive politics and divisive thinking.”

He further alleged that slogans associated with a particular religion were raised from the “sacred land” where the purification was performed. He accused Congress of trying to exploit the episode for political gains.

Congress president Mr. Kharge addressed a rally in Haldwani on August 8. On August 11, members of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas Sangathan conducted a ‘shuddhikaran yagna’ (purification yagna) at the venue.

Following the purification, Congress demanded police action against those who performed the act, alleging that the same was done because Mr. Kharge belonged to Dalit community.

Mr. Kharge also raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha in the recent monsoon session, demanding cases under laws dealing with untouchability against those who carried out the purification ceremony and calling for their arrest and imprisonment.

An FIR in the matter was lodged on September 8. The police had previously filed an FIR against Mr Gandhi as well for his remarks surrounding the controversy. 

Mr. Nabin further questioned the party’s record on Dalit issues and asked what treatment the Congress has given to leaders such as B.R. Ambedkar, Jagjivan Ram and Sitaram Kesri. He also cited alleged incidents involving Dalits in Rajasthan, Karnataka and Kerala to argue that Congress had no moral standing to claim concern for Dalit welfare.

He also attacked the Congress over its past policies during the period when Article 370 was in force, alleging that members of the Valmiki community in Jammu and Kashmir remained confined to sanitation work despite higher educational qualifications.

He hailed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s government for implementing the Uniform Civil Code and other measures for public benefit, and expressed confidence that the BJP would return to power in Uttarakhand in 2027.