The INDIA bloc on Friday staged a street theatre-style protest outside Parliament over the alleged theft of donations meant for the Ayodhya Ram Temple, while also attacking the Centre over the police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak issue.
The demonstration took place near Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex, where Opposition MPs raised slogans demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and questioned his absence from the House.
Pappu Yadav enacts symbolic skit
Independent MP Pappu Yadav, dressed as a Hindu ascetic, led the symbolic performance. A Samajwadi Party MP played the role of a devotee who offered money in a donation box in the name of the Ram Temple.
In the skit, the ascetic took the donation for himself, saying, “Theft is in our blood,” in a symbolic reference to the Opposition’s allegations regarding temple donations.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi also briefly participated in the performance by placing money into the donation box. Moments later, Pappu Yadav picked up the donation box and walked away with it, drawing applause and laughter from Opposition MPs.
Opposition raises slogans against Amit Shah
During the protest, MPs raised slogans such as “Amit Shah istifa do,” “Amit Shah Sadan mein aao,” and “Chadhawa chor, gaddi chhodo.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party MPs Awadhesh Prasad and Dharmendra Yadav, along with JMM MP Mahua Maji, also joined the demonstration.
The MPs stood behind a banner reading, “Amit Shah Sadan Se Gayab Kyun?”
Kharge criticises Centre over student protests
Ahead of the protest, Kharge accused the Centre of using force against students during the July 20 Parliament march over the NEET paper leak issue.
In a post on X, he alleged that students were first dispersed using batons and pellet guns and later faced FIRs and arrests despite assurances that no action would be taken after they ended their protest.
Kharge urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek Amit Shah’s resignation, saying, “If there’s even a shred of shame left, get Amit Shah’s resignation.”
INDIA bloc vows to continue protests
The INDIA bloc said it will continue to raise the issues of the alleged Ram Temple donation scam and the police action against student protesters during the ongoing Parliament session, both of which have repeatedly led to disruptions in the proceedings.
