Dalit Leader Kharge’s Rally Targeted by Caste‑Based ‘Purification’

Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the All India Congress Committee, faced an unprecedented episode of caste‑based “purification” at his gathering in Halduwani, Uttarakhand. Karnataka’s chief minister D.K. Shivakumar denounced the incident as a shameful act that attacks the core values of the Indian Constitution.

Shivakumar pointed out that the call for “purification” was rooted in the speaker’s Dalit identity, making it a clear case of caste discrimination. He described the episode as an insult not only to Kharge but to every Indian who upholds the principles of equality, fraternity and human dignity.

The chief minister highlighted that untouchability is a constitutional crime, not a matter of personal belief, and that any attempt to normalize such practices directly challenges the vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the framers of the Republic.

He urged political parties, civil society and citizens to reject any attempts to legitimize caste‑based exclusion and to reaffirm India’s pledge to a just and inclusive society.