The issue of the “purification” ceremony which took place after the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge rally in Haldwani has put into spotlight the issues of discrimination based on caste and politics that goes along with the ideologies of RSS and BJP. The young Congress members of Chennai have organized a protest against the RSS, stating that such an event was disrespectful to Kharge who is known as one of the most prominent Dalit leaders. Even if the organizers of the ceremony have stated that the ceremony was not meant to be linked to any caste issue, the very existence of such an issue is disturbing.
The RSS and BJP cannot easily brush aside every attack as mere politics because when events take place involving symbols of caste, there will always be concerns among the people. The Constitution of India does not only forbid untouchability but guarantees equality under the law. Any behavior that gives the impression that a public place needs to be “purified” because someone who belongs to a certain social group has been there will inevitably raise questions.
While the political environment of BJP has come under attack on account of its dealings with the social hierarchy, RSS has always come under attack from the social justice movements due to issues pertaining to caste and equality. Rather than defending itself against such criticisms, the Sangh Parivar must unequivocally declare that no citizen of India is “impure” on the grounds of his caste or community.
Arrests of the protesters are also adding to the already existing controversy. Democratic protests should not be seen as a bigger problem than the discrimination based on which the controversy began in the first place. The Indian political system, dominated by BJP, needs to understand that there cannot be equality of citizens when there are notions of social purity.
India is governed by the Constitution, not by the caste system. Neither any ideology nor organization nor tradition can violate the dignity of the Indian citizens.
