Caste-based discrimination against Mallikarjun Kharge condemnable: Kerala Chief Minister Satheesan

V.D. Satheesan | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has condemned the ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ceremony reportedly held by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists at a venue at Haldwani in Uttarakhand after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there.Mr. Satheesan, in a statement here on Thursday, said the incident was a blatant violation of democratic values and the right to equality guaranteed by the Constitution.Mr. Kharge had said the purification ritual was done since he was a Dalit. He had also sought that those responsible for the incident be put behind bars.The BJP and the Sangh Parivar, which were trying to rewrite history, would not be able to wipe clear the struggles and sacrifices made by the Dalit community for building a democratic India, the Chief Minister said. Published - August 13, 2026 10:00 pm IST