Parliament Protest Controversy: Pappu Yadav Performs Hindu Ritual, Clarifies Stand on Faith (Img: X)
Varanasi: The political controversy over the alleged Ram Temple donation theft protest intensified on Saturday after seers and lawyers in this temple city filed police complaints against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Independent MP Pappu Yadav and other Opposition leaders, accusing them of insulting Sanatan Dharma and hurting religious sentiments during a symbolic protest held inside the Parliament complex.
The legal action follows a dramatic protest staged by INDIA bloc MPs on Friday, where a street-play style demonstration was organised to highlight allegations of embezzlement of donations collected at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and to question the Union government's handling of the issue.
According to police officials, the Varanasi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) at Kotwali Police Station on Saturday against Rahul Gandhi, Pappu Yadav and others based on a complaint submitted by Jagadguru Balak Das, head of Patalpuri Math.
The FIR has been registered under Sections 299 and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to acts allegedly intended to outrage religious feelings and hurt religious sentiments. The case was registered at around 2 pm after police examined the written complaint submitted by the complainant.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kashi Zone) Gaurav Banswal confirmed that the FIR was lodged after seers alleged that the Opposition MPs had insulted Sanatan Dharma during the protest held outside Parliament. The complainants claimed that the symbolic performance crossed the limits of political protest and amounted to an attack on religious beliefs and Hindu traditions.
Apart from the FIR, a separate written complaint was submitted by a group of lawyers at the Cantonment police station in Varanasi. The advocates alleged that the Parliament protest insulted Sanatan Dharma and demanded criminal proceedings against Gandhi, Yadav and other leaders involved in the demonstration. The lawyers clarified that they had submitted a formal police complaint seeking legal action rather than merely filing a memorandum.
Religious leaders also condemned the protest, alleging that the use of saffron robes and the portrayal of a symbolic donation theft had insulted Lord Ram, the saint community and Hindu religious traditions. They argued that the demonstration deeply offended the sentiments of followers of Sanatan Dharma and called for strict legal action against those responsible.
The controversy stems from a protest organised by INDIA bloc MPs at Makar Dwar inside the Parliament complex on Friday. The Opposition used a theatrical skit to draw attention to allegations of financial irregularities involving donations made at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
During the performance, donation boxes were placed near the Parliament entrance, while MPs symbolically deposited money into the boxes. Pappu Yadav, dressed in saffron attire and seated beside the donation boxes, was shown placing the money into his pockets as part of the political act intended to depict the alleged diversion of temple donations.
The protest was attended by several senior Opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji, among others.
A large banner questioning the absence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah from Parliament was displayed during the protest, while Opposition MPs also demanded his resignation over the controversy. Slogans calling for Amit Shah's resignation and accusing him of avoiding Parliament proceedings were raised throughout the demonstration.
The Opposition also linked the protest to alleged police action against student protesters during their Parliament march on July 20, combining both issues in a coordinated political campaign.
The registration of the FIR marks the beginning of a formal criminal investigation into the allegations. Police are expected to examine video recordings, photographs and other digital evidence from the Parliament protest as part of the investigation before deciding on further legal proceedings.
The incident has further escalated the political confrontation between the ruling NDA and the Opposition, with both sides accusing each other of exploiting religious issues for political gains while the controversy continues to generate sharp reactions across political and religious circles.
