New Delhi: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (August 29) condemned the “purification” ritual that was performed on stage in Haldwani after Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a public meeting earlier this month. Gandhi called the incident a crime and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must register an FIR.“The more successful a Dalit person becomes, the more forcefully they are attacked. This happens every day with crores of people,” said Gandhi.“When our Rajasthan CLP [Congress Legislature Party] leader Tikaram Julie visits a temple, BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] leaders perform purification rituals. When Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who has dedicated his whole life to the country, has been a minister, when he goes to deliver a speech at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan, purification is performed there. When former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi visits a temple, purification is performed there too. This is done by BJP-RSS [BJP-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh] people, and this is a crime according to the constitution of India.”Gandhi said that while this is called “purification,” it is “untouchability” which is being practiced by the BJP.“When they are doing purification they are saying Dalit is untouchable and they are dirty. And this is a crime under the constitution,” said Gandhi.Gandhi said that the issue does not concern Kharge alone but is the tip of the iceberg.“If the Congress president can face this openly, then imagine what happens in school with a four-year-old child,” he said.Earlier this month, Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt defended the “purification” ritual and said that the place was “polluted”.“Those who have no real issues are the ones who raise matters that only damage and divide the society. Kharge ji’s rally held in Haldwani. The Ramlila Ground there was defiled. At a place where there is a Ram temple, slogans were raised that should not have been raised. The place was polluted, and then it was purified,” he had said.On August 13, Kharge had raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha and said that he was made to feel the “sting of untouchability” when Union minister and leader of the House J.P. Nadda had said action would be taken.“I have the strength to fight. I do fight. Lakhs of people were there at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani. At that time, I did not mention the name of any community or religion; I only reiterated the issues of the government. But after my speech, you [people associated with Bharatiya Janata Party] tried to insult me by doing a purification ritual [on the stage in Haldwani], you made me feel the sting of untouchability. Is this the way in a democracy? How are you protecting the constitution? I am the LoP,” Kharge had said in the Rajya Sabha.Nadda had then responded to say: “I assure you that whatever happened there will certainly be investigated. The [BJP] national president will look into this. It is a matter of great regret for all of us that your sentiments were hurt.”Gandhi said on Saturday that Modi should order an FIR and the incident revealed that the BJP-RSS mindset does not want Dalits to progress.“Prime Minister Modi should order that action be taken under the SC/ST Act against those who carried out the purification,” said Gandhi.“Today’s fight is between the constitution and the BJP-RSS ideology, and the purification incident reveals their mindset. They don’t want Dalits to progress or live with respect and become successful.”“We are demanding justice for the Congress president. Give the Congress president justice in Uttarakhand. It is the duty of the Union and state governments to ensure that Kharge gets justice,” he added.