Punjab Congress Protest in Jalandhar Over Kharge Haldwani Stage ‘Purification’ Row; Channi, Pargat Singh Target BJP

September 7, 2026

Jalandhar: The Punjab Congress staged a protest in Jalandhar on Monday against the alleged “purification” of a stage in Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there. Congress leaders accused the BJP and RSS workers of promoting caste-based discrimination and announced a protest march to Samvidhan Chowk (BMC).

The demonstration was held at Deshbhagat Yadgar Hall, where Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi, Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh and other party leaders criticised the BJP over the incident.

#WATCH | Jalandhar, Punjab: On FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi in connection with Haldwani purification controversy, Chairperson of Punjab Congress Campaign Committee, Charanjit Singh Channi says, “Mallikarjun Kharge is the Congress president. He addressed a rally at Ramlila… pic.twitter.com/4Oi6Decyte

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2026

Channi Demands Withdrawal of FIR Against Rahul Gandhi

Reacting to the FIR filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in connection with the Haldwani controversy, Channi said the case should be withdrawn and instead questioned why action was not taken against those who allegedly carried out the “purification”.

Channi said Kharge had addressed a rally at Ramlila Ground in Haldwani and alleged that after the Congress president left, the stage was washed by BJP-RSS workers, who described it as a purification exercise.

“How long will this ‘Manuvaadi’ mindset continue?” Channi asked, alleging that the BJP’s politics continues to target Dalits, Adivasis, poor people, backward communities and SC-ST groups.

He also criticised the filing of an FIR against Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue and said the action was “condemnable”.

Congress Calls Haldwani Incident an Attack on Equality

Congress leaders at the Jalandhar protest described the alleged stage purification as more than an insult to a political leader, calling it an attack on the principles of equality and the Constitution.

The leaders referred to Articles 14, 15 and 17 of the Constitution, which deal with equality before law, prohibition of discrimination and abolition of untouchability.

They accused the BJP of using caste and religious issues to divert attention from inflation, unemployment, economic distress and other public concerns.

Invoking the Punjab tradition of “Sangat and Pangat”, Congress leaders said the state would not accept what they described as a discriminatory mindset rooted in the Manusmriti.

Congress Rejects BJP’s Havan-Yajna Explanation

Congress leaders also rejected BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s statement that the event was a routine Havan-Yajna organised by a religious institution.

They alleged that senior BJP leaders, including the state BJP president and a Rajya Sabha MP, were personally present at the event and claimed that evidence was available to establish their presence.

Congress leaders also questioned the silence of the AAP government on the issue, accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of acting as the BJP’s “B-team”.

Pargat Singh, Kotli Target BJP and AAP

Pargat Singh also criticised the alleged incident and accused the BJP of dividing society along caste and religious lines.

Adampur MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli said the BJP was diverting attention from issues such as unemployment, inflation and economic hardship. He said the Jalandhar protest was being led by Channi and Congress MLAs and that a protest rally would subsequently be taken out towards Samvidhan Chowk.

Kotli also criticised the FIR against Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader had raised his voice against the alleged insult to Kharge.

Congress Raises Punjab Power Crisis

The Congress leaders also targeted the Punjab government over the state’s power and coal situation.

They claimed that thermal power plants had only a few days of coal reserves left and alleged that electricity generation in Punjab had become among the most expensive in the country.

The Congress leaders accused the AAP government of rejecting opportunities for cheaper electricity and alleged that the administration was being controlled from Delhi. They also levelled corruption allegations against the government.

Kotli Raises Sheron Assault, Delhi Building Collapse Issues

Kotli demanded the suspension of police personnel accused of assaulting a youth in Sheron village during a protest linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

He referred to what he described as contradictions between statements made by Minister Aman Arora and the SSP and said merely transferring a DSP or assigning an official to police lines should not be treated as adequate punishment.

Kotli also backed Deepender Hooda’s criticism over the alleged delay in ambulances and rescue teams following the recent building collapse in Delhi.

The Congress leaders said the Jalandhar protest was part of their broader opposition to what they described as divisive politics and government failures.