Uttarakhand Congress Says BJP Is on the Back Foot Amid Crime Surge, Paper Leaks and ‘Purification’ Row

Congress stalwart Kumari Selja, who heads the party’s Uttarakhand unit, told reporters on Monday that the state’s BJP government has been pushed “entirely onto the back foot.” She pointed to a string of problems that, in her view, are gnawing at the ruling party’s credibility – a spike in criminal incidents, an exodus of people from the hills, and the recent leak of examination papers.

“You can see how, for some time now, the BJP government has been facing so many issues and has been pushed entirely onto the back foot. Whether it is the rise in crime, the issue of mass migration, or the leaking of exam papers for students – so much is happening,” Selja said, adding that the Congress is feeling a wave of support, especially among the state’s youth.

Her comments came just hours before the party announced a protest near the residence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The demonstration is meant to condemn what Selja described as a “purification” ritual carried out on the Ramlila ground in Haldwani after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a rally there. Party workers plan to encircle the chief minister’s house, demanding that those who organized the ceremony be held accountable.

Selja also recalled Rahul Gandhi’s recent rally in Uttarakhand, noting the enthusiastic response from young voters. “The ground was slipping from beneath their feet,” she said, implying that the BJP’s attempts to rally support through divisive politics were desperate and out of touch.

According to Selja, the ruling party’s state president, Mahendra Bhatt, should be investigated for allegedly justifying the Haldwani ritual. The Congress also wants the FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi on August 30 – over remarks about a “shuddhikaran yajna” that allegedly hurt SC community sentiments – to be withdrawn.

“We will not let these divisive tactics succeed, nor will the people of Uttarakhand,” Selja vowed, stressing that the party will continue to fight any effort to undermine the state’s long‑standing spirit of brotherhood.