Varanasi Police File FIR Against Rahul Gandhi, Two MPs Over Alleged Sanatan Dharma Remarks

Varanasi Police have registered a case against Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and two other MPs following allegations that they hurt religious sentiments and insulted Sanatan Dharma during an opposition protest held in Parliament.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kashi Zone) Gaurav Banswal, the FIR was filed at Kotwali police station based on a complaint submitted by a group of seers. The complaint named Rahul Gandhi, Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, and Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad.

The complainants alleged that remarks and actions during the protest amounted to disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma. Seer Jagatguru Balak Das said the alleged portrayal involving Lord Ram and religious symbols inside Parliament had deeply hurt the sentiments of devotees and demanded legal action.

The controversy stems from a protest organised by INDIA bloc MPs on Friday over allegations of irregularities in donations collected for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the police action against student protesters during their July 20 march to Parliament.

During the demonstration, opposition lawmakers staged a symbolic act by placing donation boxes near the Makar Dwar stairs of Parliament. As part of the protest, some MPs deposited money into the boxes, while Pappu Yadav, dressed in saffron attire, was shown taking the money from them as part of the skit.

The protest also saw participation from senior opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Awadhesh Prasad, Dharmendra Yadav and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Mahua Maji.

The INDIA bloc MPs raised slogans demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and questioned his absence from Parliament proceedings. They also displayed banners asking why the Home Minister was not present in the House.

The FIR has added another political flashpoint between the ruling party and opposition ahead of further parliamentary debates, with the opposition maintaining that the protest was aimed at highlighting alleged misuse of temple donations and government accountability.