- Complaint filed against Pappu Yadav at Delhi’s Jahangirpuri Police Station.
- Protest over alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement featured a symbolic street play.
- Complainant alleged Lord Ram’s image was insulted during the demonstration.
- Lok Sabha Secretariat reportedly plans stricter enforcement against costume-based protests.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 1st Aug: A police complaint has been lodged against Independent MP from Purnia, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, over his protest inside the Parliament complex alleging embezzlement of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
The complaint was filed at Delhi’s Jahangirpuri Police Station by petitioner Surya Maithil, who accused the MP of hurting religious sentiments during the demonstration. According to the complainant, the protest allegedly insulted saffron symbols and the image of Lord Ram.
Speaking to reporters, Maithil alleged that Pappu Yadav placed a photograph of Lord Ram Lalla Virajman beneath his feet during the protest, an act he claimed deeply hurt the sentiments of Sanatan followers. He also criticised Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Dimple Yadav and Awadhesh Prasad, for supporting the demonstration.
The protest, backed by several INDIA bloc MPs, took the form of a symbolic street play inside the Parliament complex. Wearing saffron robes, Pappu Yadav portrayed a temple priest collecting donations from devotees. In the performance, Opposition MPs acted as devotees placing money into a donation box, while Yadav was shown slipping the money into his pocket to symbolically depict the alleged misappropriation of Ram Mandir donations.
During the protest, Opposition MPs raised slogans demanding accountability over the alleged donation irregularities and called for a discussion in Parliament. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav said the demonstration was intended to draw attention to allegations that devotees were not issued receipts for donations and that CCTV footage related to the matter had allegedly been deleted.
Following the incident, the Lok Sabha Secretariat reportedly took a strict view of the protest. According to sources, costume-based demonstrations and theatrical performances will not be permitted within the Parliament complex. Reports also indicated that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed displeasure over the incident and directed stricter enforcement of existing guidelines.
Reacting to the protest, Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused the Opposition of insulting Sanatan traditions. He said the demonstration was an attempt to defame Sanatan for political gains and described it as an offence that would not be forgiven.
The complaint has sought legal action against Pappu Yadav, while police are expected to examine the allegations in accordance with the law.
