Parliament skit on Ram temple donations triggers VHP outrage

The Parliament complex on Friday witnessed street theatre with saffron-clad independent MP Pappu Yadav and other Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, staging a skit depicting alleged theft of donations from the Ram temple in Ayodhya. It promptly drew the ire of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), stating it hurt Hindus’ religious sentiments.

The satirical skit saw an ascetic sitting cross-legged on the floor, locked in a heated argument with a woman over a temple donation. Moments after making an offering, she suddenly begins shouting, “Chori ho gaya, chori ho gaya” (“My money has been stolen”), accusing the ascetic of pocketing it.

Amid the commotion, a third person walks in and drops a handful of cash into a donation box. The ascetic immediately grabs the box and runs away, shouting, “Chori hamare khoon mein hai” (“Theft is in my blood”), as onlookers scoff at the spectacle.

The ascetic was MP from Purnia, Pappu Yadav. The woman was a Samajwadi Party MP. The man who walked in with the cash was Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Later, protesting in front of Makar Dwar of Parliament, the lawmakers raised ‘Chadhawa chor, gaddi chhodh (Donation thieves, leave the seat)’. The MPs kept donation boxes in front of the Makar Dwar steps while Pappu Yadav sat with the boxes.

Several prominent seers and office-bearers associated with the Ram temple and Ayodhya’s religious institutions also hit out at the protest and demanded the expulsion of the MPs involved, and urged President Droupadi Murmu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to cancel their membership.

In a video statement, VHP international joint general secretary Surendra Jain alleged that Yadav, Gandhi and other MPs of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party staged a “vulgar” protest by wearing the attire of Hindu saints. He appealed to the Lok Sabha Speaker to take strict action against the MPs. “By wearing the attire of a saint, they have not only insulted saints but also hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. The people of the country will not forgive them,” he alleged.

Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti national general secretary Jitendranand Saraswati alleged that the Opposition misused the Parliament premises to insult Sanatan Dharma by wearing saffron robes during the protest. “On the issue of the Ram temple, the saints of Ayodhya have already given their response. The alleged theft will be dealt with by the SIT and the Supreme Court. But using that as a pretext to malign Sanatan Dharma and the sacrifice and penance of saints will not be tolerated by the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti,” he said.

 BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj alleged that it was a “conspiracy” orchestrated by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and the entire opposition.

Among others who criticised the protest were Ram Temple trustee Mahant Dinendra Das, Hanumangarhi temple Mahant Raju Das, Ramdal Trust president Kalki Ram, spiritual leader Swami Dipankar, Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das Maharaj, Sant Satyendra Das Vedanti and Swami Sachchidanand Maharaj of Chitragupt Peethadhishwar.