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The issue of purification of the venue came to light after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's rally in Haldwani on August 8. It is alleged that people associated with a right-wing organization carried out purification at the rally site. While mentioning this incident in Rajya Sabha, Kharge linked it to the pain of untouchability and also raised questions. However, this is not the first case of controversy regarding purification in Indian politics. Even Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram was not untouched by this in the parliamentary politics of the country.

In politics, claims of purifying politicians or places associated with their visit have come up many times before. Among these, some cases to Dalit leaders were much discussed, while one case was also to the official residence of the former Chief Minister.

When did purification disputes arise?

• Claim of washing the idol after the presence of Jagjivan Ram
  In 1978, the then Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram had unveiled the statue of former Chief Minister Dr. Sampurnanand at the Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi. After his departure, some students and priests washed the idol with Ganga water and milk. This was said to be an act of purification of the idol. There were protests across the country regarding the incident and the matter reached the Parliament.
• Controversy broke out over Dalit minister visiting the temple
  In 2009, the then Odisha Minister Pramila Mallick had come to worship in the sanctum sanctorum of the Akhandalmani temple. Pramila Mallik comes from Dalit community. After his entry into the sanctum sanctorum, the temple priests closed the temple and performed purification rituals. At that time the chief priest of the temple had said that Dalits were not allowed to enter the sanctum sanctorum. There was a lot of controversy regarding this incident also.

• Jitan Ram Manjhi claims purification after visiting temple
  In 2014, the then Chief Minister of Bihar, Jitan Ram Manjhi had come to worship at the famous Parameshwari Devi temple located in Andhrathadi in Madhubani district. Manjhi comes from Mahadalit community. He had claimed that after he left the temple the priests had washed the idols and the entire temple complex to purify it. There was a debate across the country regarding this incident. The Bihar government had also ordered a high-level inquiry to find out the truth of the matter.
• Purification of Akhilesh's residence
  After Yogi Adityanath became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2017, he came to live in the Chief Minister's residence located at 5, Kalidas Marg. Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav used to live in this government bungalow as the Chief Minister. According to reports, religious rituals and purification were conducted before Yogi reached there.

• Controversy over Tikaram Julie visiting temple in Alwar
  In 2025, Leader of Opposition in Rajasthan Assembly and Dalit leader Tikaram Julie had worshiped in a temple in Alwar. After he came out of the temple, former BJP leader Gyandev Ahuja had purified the temple premises by sprinkling Ganga water. After the controversy escalated, BJP issued a show cause notice to Gyandev Ahuja and started disciplinary action against him. A complaint was also registered in this matter under SC/ST Act.