By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
Garhwal Post Bureau
Haldwani, 9 Sep: Amid the controversy over the alleged ‘purification’ ritual, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today again targeted the Congress. On the sidelines of the BJP State Executive Meeting being held here, Dhami spoke informally to the media persons. He alleged that the Congress does not have any facts or evidence to establish that the ritual in Haldwani was conducted with the intention of insulting any particular person (Mallikarjun Kharge). The CM alleged that attempts are deliberately being made to give the issue a political colour and create confusion and division in society. He said that the Congress wants to deliberately vitiate the atmosphere in the state by stoking caste sensitive issues.
The CM’s remarks have come a day after a case was registered against unidentified persons in connection with the controversy. Referring to the issue again soon after the registration of the case, Dhami questioned the Congress’ approach and said that instead of giving a sensitive issue a political twist for electoral gains, the party should have placed facts and evidence before the public. He also appealed to the Congress to discharge its responsibility of strengthening social unity rather than creating further divisions.
It may be recalled that the political controversy over the ‘purification’ yajna in Haldwani has intensified in recent days, with the Congress alleging that the episode was linked to insult and social division. The Chief Minister, however, has challenged the Congress to come forward with concrete facts and evidence to substantiate its allegations. With an FIR now having been registered, attention has shifted to the police investigation and the circumstances that led to the holding of the purification ritual. The investigation is expected to establish the actual reasons behind the ceremony and whether any offence was committed.
In this regard another FIR was registered in Haldwani yesterday in connection with the ‘purification’ controversy on the complaint of Congress worker Anju at Haldwani Kotwali. The case has been registered under Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 3(1)(R) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Nainital SSP Manjunath TC has entrusted the investigation to SP (Crime) Jagdish Chandra.
According to the SSP, the police have received around 80 complaints and petitions from across Uttarakhand in connection with the matter, including 19 from Nainital district, seeking registration of an FIR. He said that after a legal examination of the complaints, a case was registered at Haldwani Kotwali on the complaint submitted by Anju. The SSP said Anju was the first person to lodge a complaint in connection with the matter.
While the Congress has sought to portray the episode as an issue of dignity, social harmony and alleged discrimination, the BJP has questioned the basis of the allegations and accused the opposition party of attempting to exploit a sensitive matter for political purposes.
