Rahul Gandhi and allies booked for alleged insult to Sanatan Dharma after Parliament protest

Varanasi police have registered a first information report against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party MP Pappu Yadav and Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad. The FIR accuses them of insulting Sanatan Dharma and hurting religious sentiments during a protest staged inside the Parliament complex on 31 July. The demonstration, organised by the opposition bloc, used a mock donation‑box act to highlight alleged misappropriation of funds collected for the Ayodhya Ram Temple. In the performance, Yadav, dressed in saffron, pretended to pocket money from the box while Gandhi placed cash into it. Police said the case was filed at Kotwali police station after complaints from Hindu seers who said the act demeaned Lord Ram and the faith. The protest also called for the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Investigations are ongoing.