Lucknow/New Delhi26 minutes ago
On the 10th day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session on Friday, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress staged a unique protest in the Parliament complex over the alleged theft of offerings at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Independent MP Pappu Yadav, who represents Purnia in Bihar, arrived dressed as a Hindu ascetic. Wearing a sandalwood tilak on his forehead and carrying a donation box, he sat on the ground.
As SP MPs Dimple Yadav, Dharmendra Yadav and Awadhesh Prasad tried to place offerings in the donation box, Pappu Yadav jokingly snatched the money and put it in his pocket.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also dropped money into the box. A short while later, Pappu Yadav pretended to run away with the donation box, but SP MPs caught him and took it back.
In a light-hearted remark, Pappu Yadav said, “I thought I’d run away with the money, but the SP MPs caught me. Now they’re saying they’ll hang me.”
The opposition has been targeting the government over the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram Mandir, the alleged lathi-charge on students, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s absence from the House.
Led by Priyanka Gandhi, opposition MPs also held placards during the protest asking, “Why is Amit Shah missing from Parliament?”
Two photos from the opposition protest:
Opposition MPs staged a protest during Parliament’s Monsoon Session over the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram Mandir.
Opposition MPs, including Priyanka Gandhi, protested against Union HM Amit Shah at Parliament’s Makar Dwar over police action against CJP protesters on 20 July.
