Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has reportedly expressed his displeasure over the lack of strong support from party leaders following the controversy surrounding an alleged purification ritual at the venue of his rally in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.

The issue came up during the Congress Working Committee meeting held in Delhi on Wednesday. According to media reports, Kharge told party leaders that he was hurt because several CWC members had not openly condemned the incident or strongly supported him on the issue.

Kharge did not name any particular Congress leader during the meeting. However, his remarks were reportedly seen as an expression of disappointment with some senior leaders whose public response to the controversy was not as strong as he had expected.

The controversy relates to an incident that took place after Kharge addressed the Vijay Shankhnaad rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8. Two days later, on August 10, members of the right-wing organisation Shri Ram Sena reportedly conducted a purification havan at the same venue.

The reported ritual triggered a political controversy. Congress strongly criticised the incident and alleged that conducting such a ritual after a political event reflected a discriminatory and anti-Dalit mindset.

The Congress also alleged that the people involved in the ritual had links with organisations associated with the BJP and RSS. The party argued that the incident should be viewed in the broader context of social equality, dignity and discrimination.

Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal also commented on the matter after the CWC meeting. He described the incident as unacceptable and condemnable and alleged that it reflected the mindset of the BJP.

The BJP, however, distanced itself from the incident and condemned the reported action by the right-wing organisation. This led to competing political positions, with the Congress questioning the social implications of the incident and the BJP rejecting responsibility for the action.

The issue was also raised by Kharge in Parliament on the final day of the Monsoon Session. The Congress president used the incident to underline what the party described as a serious concern related to social equality and dignity.

Kharge's remarks during the CWC meeting have also drawn attention to the Congress's internal response to sensitive political issues. His reported disappointment suggests that the party leadership expects senior leaders to take a more united and visible position when matters related to social justice and discrimination arise.

The controversy is particularly significant in the context of Kharge's political focus on social justice and the rights of disadvantaged communities. His reaction indicates that he expects the party's senior leadership to respond collectively when such issues become politically significant.

Although no individual Congress leader was named, Kharge's remarks sent a clear message about the importance of internal coordination and public support on sensitive issues.

The Haldwani controversy therefore remains both a political issue between the Congress and BJP and an internal matter of discussion within the Congress. The CWC meeting has highlighted the party leadership's expectation of a more coordinated response from its senior leaders on issues involving social equality and discrimination.