Haldwani 'purification' row: Congress workers protest in Dehradun, MPs to meet President

New Delhi: Congress leaders and workers from poll-bound Uttarakhand on Monday staged a demonstration in Dehradun, demanding that the BJP state government get an FIR registered over the recent "purification" ritual carried out in Haldwani after party president Mallikarjun Kharge held a rally there last month.

Meanwhile, over 30 Congress MPs, belonging to the SC and ST communities, met in Delhi on Monday and formally sought, as ET had reported earlier, time for a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday to submit a memorandum against the "purification" act and to demand her intervention in getting an FIR filed against the culprits.

Also read: Kharge to Nadda: Keep promise, ensure FIR in 'purification' case


Uttarakhand Congress leaders, legislators and workers, led by AICC general secretary in-charge Kumari Selja, PCC president Ganesh Godiyal and Leader of Opposition in the assembly Yashpal Arya, braving rains, marched from the Parade Ground towards the CM's residence before they were stopped by the police. Terming the "purification" as an act of practicing untouchability and an insult to the Constitution, Selja said the people's anger would oust the BJP state government .

"The people here are being betrayed and deceived. When our party's national president came here to raise the voice of the people and speak up for everyone, the state government and those who subscribe to this ideology performed a 'purification' ritual.

The clarion call for 2027 has been sounded now," Selja said, addressing the gathering.

In Delhi, Congress chief whip Kodikunnil Suresh told journalists after party MPs' meeting, "We will all appeal to the President of India on Tuesday to give us time to submit a memorandum to her against the issue of 'purification' ritual done in Haldwani".