The Varanasi police on Saturday registered a case against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and two other MPs for allegedly insulting Sanatan Dharma and hurting religious sentiments during an opposition protest in Parliament. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: An FIR was registered in Varanasi on Saturday against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and MPs Pappu Yadav and Awadhesh Prasad for allegedly hurting religious sentiments over a skit staged in the Parliament complex, while BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj and others filed a complaint in Delhi.

Varanasi Police registered the case at Kotwali police station based on a complaint by seers alleging insult to Sanatan Dharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kashi Zone) Gaurav Banswal said.
The accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 196 (promoting enmity between groups), 299 (deliberate acts to outrage religious feelings), 302 (uttering words with intent to wound religious feelings) and 3(5) (common intention), police said.
In Delhi, Ms Swaraj, accompanied by BJP MLAs, submitted a complaint at Parliament Street police station alleging that the opposition leaders mocked Sanatan culture during the protest.
“Yesterday, on the Parliament premises, under the guise of a protest, MPs Pappu Yadav ji, Awadhesh Prasad ji and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi ji staged a drama. This was not a protest. It was a mockery of Sanatan culture, a ridicule of the saint community, and a scornful insult to Indian traditions.
“In a democracy, the Constitution certainly gives you the right to protest, but it does not permit you to hurt the faith of any community....
that is why we have come to the police station today. We have submitted a complaint, sought the registration of an FIR, and requested an immediate investigation into the matter,” she said.
The case relates to a skit performed on Friday in front of the Makar Dwar at the Parliament complex, where Pappu Yadav, dressed in saffron attire, along with other MPs, enacted a protest over alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
During the skit, MPs placed money in donation boxes while Yadav was seen putting some into his pockets, symbolising the alleged theft.
Seer Jagatguru Balak Das alleged that the act had hurt religious sentiments and demanded legal action.
“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.
Protests were also reported in several places. Activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal demonstrated in Bhopal and were stopped by police while attempting to march.
In Lucknow, members of the Sanatan Raksha Sangathan held a symbolic protest and demanded an apology, while another group called for stringent action against those involved.
The protest in Parliament was part of a wider opposition demonstration over alleged donation theft at the Ram temple and police action against student protests during the Monsoon session.


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