Opposition MPs Hold Protest In Parliament Over Alleged Ram Temple Donation Theft

Opposition members of Parliament staged a protest inside the Parliament House complex on Monday over allegations of theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the alleged use of excessive force against students during recent protests over the NEET paper leak issue. The demonstration, led by leaders of the INDIA bloc, featured symbolic donation boxes and slogans targeting the Centre, as the opposition sought to raise both issues during the ongoing Parliament session.

The protest took place near Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex, where MPs raised slogans including "Chhanda Chor, Gaddi Chor" and "Amit Shah Sadan Mein Aao". The lawmakers placed donation boxes at the venue to symbolise the alleged theft of offerings at the Ram Temple. Some MPs deposited cash into the boxes before alleging that the donations had later been stolen, using the act as a symbolic criticism of the government.

Among those participating in the protest were Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party MPs Dimple Yadav and Dharmendra Yadav, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji and RSP MP N.K. Premachandran. The MPs stood behind a large banner reading, "Why Amit Shah Absent from Parliament", while demanding the Union Home Minister's presence in the House. They also criticised the reported directions issued to security personnel during the recent student demonstrations against the alleged NEET paper leak.

Also Read: CJI Cautions Against Politicising Ram Temple Donation Theft Case

The INDIA bloc has announced that it will continue pressing the government on the alleged Ram Temple donation theft and what it describes as the use of excessive police force against students. On Friday, opposition MPs had staged a symbolic skit in the Parliament complex in which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other MPs placed money into donation boxes, while Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, dressed in saffron attire, enacted the alleged theft of donations.

The protests have triggered a political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several Hindu organisations accusing the opposition of insulting Sanatan Dharma through the demonstration. Earlier on Monday, floor leaders of the INDIA bloc met in the chamber of Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to finalise their strategy for the week's parliamentary proceedings, signalling that the opposition intends to continue raising these issues both inside and outside the two Houses.

Also Read: Rahul, Kharge Ask PM Modi For Inquiry Into Alleged Ram Temple Donation Misuse