New Delhi: The political controversy surrounding an alleged ‘havan’ and ‘purification’ ritual held after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s public meeting in Haldwani has intensified, with the Indian Youth Congress staging a protest outside the RSS headquarters.

As part of the protest, IYC workers burned copies of the Manusmriti, describing the move as a symbolic response to what they alleged was an insult to the Dalit community.

According to the Youth Congress, a ‘purification’ ritual was conducted at Haldwani’s Ramlila Maidan after Kharge’s public meeting. The organisation alleged that the incident reflected discriminatory attitudes towards the Dalit community.

The IYC also alleged that the BJP has neither apologised over the incident nor ensured the registration of an FIR against those responsible.

‘No Place for Manusmriti in India’

During the protest, Youth Congress workers raised slogans against caste-based discrimination and argued that the values of the Indian Constitution must remain the foundation of the country.

The organisation said that India should be governed by the constitutional principles associated with Dr BR Ambedkar, rather than ideas that promote divisions based on notions of purity, impurity or social hierarchy.

The burning of the Manusmriti was presented as a symbolic protest against caste discrimination.

Haldwani Row Triggers Political Clash

The Haldwani controversy has triggered a fresh political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP.

While Congress leaders have described the alleged purification ceremony as an insult to the Dalit community, the BJP has maintained that the event was not organised by the party or the state government.

The conflicting claims have kept the issue at the centre of political debate, with questions continuing over who organised the ceremony and what prompted it.

The latest Youth Congress protest outside the RSS headquarters has added another dimension to the controversy, bringing issues of caste discrimination, constitutional values and social equality back into the political spotlight.