Rahul Gandhi Calls Haldwani Ritual ‘Untouchability’; BJP Says Congress Misleading Dalits | News18

Haldwani Purification Row: A political face-off has intensified after Rahul Gandhi described the alleged ‘shuddhikaran’ ritual at Haldwani’s Ramlila Ground as “untouchability” and accused the BJP-RSS of insulting Dalits.Rahul Gandhi has demanded an FIR against those responsible, calling the alleged incident a violation of constitutional values and equality.The BJP has rejected Congress’ allegations, with Uttarakhand BJP leader and minister Khajan Das claiming that the party had no connection with the ritual and accusing Congress of misleading the Dalit community.Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had earlier raised the issue in Parliament after the ritual was reportedly conducted following his rally at the venue. n18oc_Indian18oc_politicsNews18 Mobile App – https://onelink.to/desc-youtubeCNN-News18 is your trusted source for breaking news, updates, and in-depth analysis from around the world. CNN-News18 is dedicated to bringing you the latest news, trends, and insights, helping you stay informed and up-to-date. Subscribe Now and join our community of informed and engaged viewers. Follow Every Breaking Story LIVE 🔴Watch News18 LIVE 24×7: https://youtube.com/live/rfDx1HMvXbQFollow us on Google: news18.co/cn18gFollow CNN News18 on X: https://x.com/CNNnews18Follow CNN News18 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnnews18/Follow CNN News18 on Facebook: facebook.com/cnnnews18 with latest headlines on politics, sports and entertainment on news18.comNews18 Mobile App – https://onelink.to/desc-youtube

Last Updated: August 29, 2026, 22:20 IST