NEW DELHI: A scuffle broke out during Independent MP Pappu Yadav‘s press conference at his residence in Delhi on Sunday after a man questioned him over the opposition’s Ram Temple skit.Videos from the scene showed party supporters clashing with the man as the confrontation escalated. According to visuals released by ANI, the alleged assailant was carrying a knife when the clash broke out. Further details on the incident were awaited.The altercation comes a day after Varanasi Police registered an FIR against Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, Independent MP Pappu Yadav, Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad and several other opposition leaders over a protest in Parliament that allegedly insulted Sanatan Dharma and hurt religious sentiments.The case was registered following complaints by seers, who objected to a symbolic skit staged by INDIA bloc MPs over allegations of financial irregularities in Ram Temple donations.During Friday’s protest outside Parliament, opposition MPs placed donation boxes near the stairs leading to Makar Dwar to highlight the alleged theft of temple offerings. Rahul Gandhi and other MPs were seen putting money into the boxes, while Pappu Yadav, dressed as a temple priest, enacted a scene in which he appeared to slip the donations into his pockets.According to deputy commissioner of police (Kashi Zone) Gaurav Banswal, the FIR was registered at Kotwali police station based on a complaint by seers, who alleged that the protest “insulted” Sanatan Dharma.Seer Jagatguru Balak Das described Pappu Yadav’s actions as “unforgivable.”
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“No follower of Sanatan Dharma can forget this act. It has hurt our religious sentiments. So we have demanded that a case be registered,” he said.The protest also raised the issue of alleged police action against student protesters during the July 20 Parliament march. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, SP’s Dharmendra Yadav and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji were among those who participated.
