The controversy over the alleged “purification” ceremony after a Mallikarjun Kharge rally has taken a new turn. BJP leader RP Singh has said the ritual was not linked to the Congress president and that the Uttarakhand government is investigating the matter, with action promised against anyone found guilty.

Mahendra Bhatt said that the ritual took place because the venue had been defiled and polluted by the slogans raised during the programme.

Congress criticizes BJP's Mahendra Bhatt for defending a purification ritual, alleging it reveals the party's casteist tendencies.