Chennai, August 15: Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Saturday strongly condemned the alleged shuddhikaran (purification) ritual conducted at Haldwani's Ramlila Ground after a public rally addressed by All India Congress Committee (AICC) President and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.

Describing the incident as a manifestation of “hate-based politics”, Tagore said the ritual was an insult to the constitutional dignity of a senior national leader.

The controversy relates to a Congress rally held in Haldwani on August 8 ahead of the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections. Following the event, members of a right-wing group allegedly carried out a purification ritual at the venue, triggering sharp reactions from the Congress leadership.

“Hate-based politics is the root cause of untouchability. Mallikarjun Kharge is not an ordinary person. He is the president of the All India Congress and the Leader of the Opposition. Yet, such an insult has been meted out to him,” Tagore said.

He also linked the issue to the Congress party's broader campaign against divisive politics, referring to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra.

“Rahul Gandhi undertook the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to fight against hate politics. Our fight against hate will continue,” he added.

The Haldwani incident gained national attention after Kharge raised the matter in the Rajya Sabha. Referring to his identity as a Dalit leader, Kharge said the ritual was an attempt to portray him as “untouchable”.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also attacked the BJP-RSS, accusing them of promoting a “Manuvadi mindset” and acting against constitutional principles. The BJP, however, denied any connection with the organisers of the ritual, while party president and Union Minister J.P. Nadda stated in Parliament that the BJP does not support such acts.

Meanwhile, Tagore also commented on political developments in Tamil Nadu, hailing the Congress party's new political arrangement with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, as a historic development.

According to Tagore, the Congress is now allied with TVK, which emerged as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The Congress had earlier ended its alliance with the DMK following the Assembly elections and subsequently won five seats in the House.