VARANASI, Aug 1: Seers and lawyers in Uttar Pradesh, on Saturday, filed police complaints against Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, accusing them of hurting religious sentiments after an act over the alleged Ram Temple donation theft was staged at the Parliament premises a day before.
A row erupted after Purnia MP Pappu Yadav came dressed as a monk in the Parliament complex on Friday and enacted the alleged embezzlement of donations made at Ayodhya's Ram Temple, with several opposition leaders, including LoP Gandhi, playing a cameo role.
One of the complaints was filed by seers at Varanasi's Kotwali police station while the other was submitted by lawyers.
Both the complaints accused the Parliamentarians of hurting religious sentiments of the Hindus.
Speaking to reporters, Patalpuri Math head priest Jagadguru Balak Das Devacharya said: "Through the act carried out by Pappu Yadav outside the Parliament House, he has insulted the saffron robe, the saint community, and also Lord Ram. A complaint has been lodged against all the opposition leaders involved… A demand has been made that legal action be taken against them otherwise the seer community will stage large-scale protests."
Gaurav Banswal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kashi Zone), said: "… Some videos have surfaced on social media which show MP Rajesh Ranjan dressed up as a monk while being engaged (in an act) at the Parliament premises. They (seers) have submitted a written complaint against the act alleging that religious sentiments have been hurt."
VHP protest against Oppn's Ram Temple skit
Activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal on Saturday staged a protest in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal against the Opposition's skit at the Parliament complex over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Saffron-clad Independent MP Pappu Yadav along with other Opposition MPs had enacted "theft" of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in Parliament complex on Friday. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi were part of the protest against the theft of donations.
The agitation by the VHP and Bajrang Dal here saw participants raising slogans against Rahul Gandhi. They tried to march from Vyapam Square to Link Road but were stopped by police barricades. Some activists tried to cross the barricades, leading to brief jostling with police personnel.
However, the situation remained under control and no untoward incident was reported, police said. (Agencies)