India Parliament protests over Ayodhya donation theft

In early August 2026, India's monsoon parliamentary session was repeatedly disrupted by opposition MPs demanding an inquiry into the alleged theft of offerings from the Ayodhya Ram Temple. On 3 August, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for most of the day as members protested the incident, while the government attempted to advance several bills, including a tax‑related measure and the Indian Statistical Institute Bill.

The following day, opposition legislators staged a march from the Gandhi statue to Makar Dwar, expanding their demands to include a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on police actions against student demonstrators and the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. While five bills were passed during the session, the core grievances over the Ayodhya donation theft and the additional J&K statehood issue remained unresolved, keeping parliamentary tensions high.

On 4 August, MPs from the Samajwadi Party and the Indian National Congress protested outside the parliamentary complex, calling for a transparent, independent investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the alleged misappropriation of temple donations. They also criticised the government's amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, urged Amit Shah to apologise for the handling of student protests, and demanded the withdrawal of the FCRA bill. Rain did not deter the demonstrators, who warned that their agitation would continue until their demands are met.