Pappu Yadav defends saffron attire at Ram Temple donation theft protest in Parliament
Synopsis
Dressed in saffron robes to dramatise alleged Ram Temple donation theft, Independent MP Pappu Yadav now faces FIRs in Varanasi and Delhi, claims international death threats, and asks: 'Where is the insult?' The skit — staged with Rahul Gandhi and Awadhesh Prasad at Parliament's Makar Dwar — has ignited a legal and political firestorm that is spreading well beyond New Delhi.
Key Takeaways
Pappu Yadav defended wearing saffron attire during a Parliament skit on Friday protesting alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple, Ayodhya .
An FIR was filed on Saturday at Kotwali Police Station, Varanasi against Rahul Gandhi , Pappu Yadav , and Awadhesh Prasad under BNS Sections 196, 299, 302, and 3(5) .
Delhi Police also registered a separate FIR over an incident at Yadav's residence on Sunday .
Yadav alleged receiving international death threats and claimed an attack occurred at a house where children were present.
VHP and Bajrang Dal activists in Bhopal attempted a march in protest; police stopped them at barricades, and scuffles broke out.
Independent MP Pappu Yadav, representing Bihar's Purnia constituency, on Monday, 3 August pushed back against accusations that he insulted sants or Sanatan Dharma by donning saffron robes during a skit staged by Opposition MPs inside the Parliament complex. The demonstration was intended to protest the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
What Pappu Yadav Said
'Where is the insult here? I neither abused anyone nor spoke against anyone. I did not take the name of any sant, nor did I mention any political party. When I did not name the BJP or the RSS, what mistake has Pappu Yadav made?' he said. The MP questioned why a single individual was being singled out when, in his words, the entire Opposition was collectively raising the issue against the government.
Yadav also claimed he has been facing threats since the controversy erupted. 'They are openly saying they will kill me. Two nights ago, there was an attack on a house where children were present. Would a genuine sant ever say such a thing? Just as attacks were made on Shankaracharyas in the past, similar attacks are being made now,' he said. He further alleged receiving international calls threatening his life.
The Parliament Skit That Sparked the Row
The controversy traces back to a skit performed on Friday in front of the Makar Dwar at the Parliament complex. Opposition MPs, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad — who represents Faizabad (Ayodhya) — participated in the demonstration. During the performance, Yadav, dressed in saffron attire, symbolically placed money into his pockets to depict the alleged theft of Ram Temple donations, while other MPs put money into donation boxes.
FIRs Filed, Legal Action Under Way
An FIR was registered on Saturday at the Kotwali Police Station in Varanasi against Rahul Gandhi, Pappu Yadav, and Awadhesh Prasad. The complaint was filed by several seers who alleged the skit insulted Sanatan Dharma and hurt religious sentiments. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kashi Zone) Gaurav Banswal confirmed the FIR was registered under Sections 196, 299, 302, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Separately, Delhi Police registered an FIR in connection with an incident reported at Yadav's residence on Sunday. According to police sources, the case was filed under Sections 221, 121(1), 132, and 3(5) of the BNS, and investigation is ongoing.
Protests Spread Across Cities
The skit triggered demonstrations by Hindu organisations in multiple cities. In Bhopal, activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi and attempted to march from Vyapam Square to Link Road. Police stopped the march at barricades, and brief scuffles broke out when some protesters attempted to cross the security cordon.
The episode reflects a deepening fault line between Opposition attempts to spotlight the Ram Temple donation controversy and counter-mobilisation by Hindu organisations — a dynamic that is likely to intensify as Parliament remains in session.
Point of View
It handed critics a counter-narrative that has, at least in the short term, drowned out the original allegation. The FIR in Varanasi — filed by seers, not police suo motu — signals that religious organisations are being mobilised as a political instrument. What mainstream coverage is missing is the asymmetry: the underlying allegation of donation embezzlement at Ayodhya has received far less scrutiny than the theatrical form of the protest. If that allegation has merit, the costume controversy has effectively buried it.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Pappu Yadav wear saffron robes during the Parliament protest?
Pappu Yadav wore saffron attire as part of a skit staged by Opposition MPs at the Parliament complex on Friday to dramatise the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He symbolically placed money into his pockets to depict the alleged theft, while other MPs put money into donation boxes.
What FIR has been filed against Pappu Yadav and others?
An FIR was registered on Saturday at Kotwali Police Station in Varanasi against Rahul Gandhi, Pappu Yadav, and Awadhesh Prasad under Sections 196, 299, 302, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Several seers filed the complaint, alleging the skit insulted Sanatan Dharma and hurt religious sentiments.
What threats has Pappu Yadav claimed to have received?
Yadav claimed he has been receiving international calls threatening his life and alleged that an attack occurred at a house where children were present two nights before his statement on Monday. He also said self-proclaimed sants and others had openly called for him to be harmed.
Who else participated in the Parliament skit?
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad, who represents Faizabad (Ayodhya), were among the Opposition MPs who participated in the skit in front of the Makar Dwar at the Parliament complex.
What is the Ram Temple donation controversy the protest was about?
The skit was staged to highlight allegations of embezzlement of public donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Opposition has been pressing the issue, though the government has not formally responded to the specific allegations depicted in the demonstration.
