Haldwani Purification Case: Punjab Congress Sc Department Ends 8-day Dharna After Uttarakhand Police Registers Fir

Sep9,2026 | Jagrati Lahar Bureau | Chandigarh

-Congress workers staged a 8-day protest, calling the legal action a victory for Dalit self-respect, the Constitution, and social justice.

-Case registered under BNS and SC/ST Act; leaders assert the struggle will continue until the accused are arrested.

-Congress warns of statewide street protests if the vindictive case registered against Rahul Gandhi is not revoked.

Chandigarh 09 September:The continuous sit-in protest held at Punjab Congress Bhawan against the unconstitutional "purification" ritual conducted at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani Uttarakhand following AICC National President Mallikarjun Kharge's rally, as well as the retaliatory FIR registered against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, concluded successfully on its 8th day. The party leadership decided to call off the dharna after Uttarakhand Police, relenting under Congress pressure, registered a case against the accused at Haldwani Kotwali under Sections 196 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3(1)(r) of the SC/ST Act.

Addressing the gathering at the conclusion of the protest, National Coordinator Sudhir Choudhary, Co-Incharge Mani Ram, and State Chairman Gurpreet Singh Lucky Pakho stated that the steadfast 8-day struggle proved the Congress party will never compromise on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's Constitution or the dignity of marginalized communities. They noted that in a BJP-ruled state, it took a month-long agitation just to get an FIR registered against the insult directed at a Dalit national president, whereas a false case was slapped immediately on Rahul Gandhi for defending Dalit rights.

The leaders cautioned that while the dharna has been called off post-FIR, they will strictly monitor administrative action. If the perpetrators are not arrested promptly and the politically motivated case against Rahul Gandhi is not dismissed, the agitation will hit the streets across every block and district of Punjab.

Key leaders and functionaries present on the occasion included National Coordinator Sudhir Choudhary, Co-Incharge Mani Ram, State Chairman Gurpreet Singh Lucky Pakho, Working Chairman Yamini Gomar, Bunny Khaira, Mohan Singh Phalianwala, Dr. Jeevanjot Kaur Bhatti, Nahar Singh Ferozepur, Ashwani Kumar Jalandhar, Darshan Singh Shutrana, Harvinder Singh Gurdaspur, Vice Chairman Principal Sulakhan Singh, Mohali District Chairman Ranjit Singh, Lakhwinder Singh (Fatehgarh Sahib), Ajmer Singh (Rupnagar), alongside a large turnout of party cadres.

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