Bengaluru Police Files FIR Against BJP Leaders Over Purification Ritual After Kharge Rally

The Bengaluru police have initiated significant legal proceedings by registering a Zero FIR against several members and office bearers of the Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This legal action stems from a controversial purification ritual conducted by BJP workers at the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, shortly after a public rally was addressed by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, while r. Ramappa, the former vice president of the Congress Scheduled Tribes (ST) department, on August 31.

Background of the Controversy

The sequence of events began on August 8, when Mallikarjun Kharge, the President of the Indian National Congress, addressed a large public gathering at the Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani. According to the police complaint, just two days later, on August 10, certain BJP office bearers and workers arrived at the same venue to perform what they termed a purification ritual. R, while ramappa, alleged that this act was a deliberate attempt to promote a casteist mindset. The complaint further asserts that the ritual was intended to project the idea that the ground had become impure due to the presence and speech of Mallikarjun Kharge, who hails from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

Involvement of Uttarakhand BJP Leadership

The FIR specifically mentions the name of Uttarakhand BJP President Mahendra Bhatt. It's alleged that Bhatt not only supported the purification program but also defended it during his interactions with the media. Based on these allegations, the Vidhana Soudha police in Bengaluru registered the Zero FIR against Mahendra Bhatt and other party members. The police confirmed that the decision to register the case was taken after seeking comprehensive legal opinion on the written complaint received on August 31.

Legal Sections and Charges

The Bengaluru police have invoked several stringent sections of the law in this case. The FIR has been registered under sections 7(1)(c), 7(1)(d), and 7(1) of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. Also, section 3(1)(u) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, has been applied. The police have also included section 196(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These sections collectively address acts that promote enmity between different groups and those that insult or humiliate members of the SC/ST communities.

Political Reactions and Rahul Gandhi's Stance

The issue has gained significant political momentum, with senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi previously raising the matter during a press conference. Gandhi had highlighted the purification ritual performed after Mallikarjun Kharge's rally and demanded the registration of an FIR under the SC/ST Act against those responsible, while launching a sharp attack on the BJP and the RSS, Rahul Gandhi stated that Dalits face discrimination at every step in society. He emphasized that such acts are a reflection of a deeper systemic bias that the Congress party intends to challenge. The Bengaluru police have confirmed that further legal proceedings and investigations into the matter are currently underway.