Opposition protests in Parl over 'chanda chori', crackdown on protesters

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among those who joined the demonstration.

As part of the protest, donation boxes were placed near the steps of Makar Dwar. Dressed in saffron attire, Pappu Yadav sat beside the boxes as Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs dropped money into them. Yadav then pocketed part of the donations in a symbolic act, with the Opposition alleging it reflected the theft of devotees' offerings at the Ram Temple.

Samajwadi Party MPs Awadhesh Prasad and Dharmendra Yadav, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji and several other INDIA bloc MPs also participated in the protest.

Congress Rajya Sabha member Pawan Khera said the protest was aimed at highlighting the alleged "Chanda Chori" at the Ram Temple.

"In Parliament, the Opposition staged a dramatic re-enactment of the Chanda theft, with Rahul Gandhi ji as the devotee making a donation, while Pappu Yadav, playing the priest, grabbed the donation plate and fled the scene," Khera said.

Congress general secretary (organisation) and Lok Sabha MP K C Venugopal said the Opposition would continue to raise both issues inside and outside Parliament.

"We will relentlessly speak up until the Home Minister answers for the brutal assault on protesting students, and until the government speaks up about the loot at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya that has hurt crores of innocent devotees," Venugopal said.

The INDIA bloc has been seeking a discussion on the alleged irregularities involving donations at the Ram Temple and the alleged use of force against students during the July 20 protest over the NEET paper leak, while demanding Amit Shah's resignation over the issue.