Bhopal, Aug 1 (IANS) The political controversy over the Opposition’s protest in Parliament on alleged irregularities in offerings made to the Ram temple reached the streets of Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal on Saturday, with the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal workers staging a demonstration and accusing the Congress of “hurting Hindu sentiments”.
Hundreds of VHP and Bajrang Dal workers gathered at Vyapam Square and marched towards the Link Road.
Police had put up barricades to stop the march.
A brief scuffle broke out when some protesters tried to cross the barricades, but police brought the situation under control.
The protesters raised slogans against the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Independent MP Pappu Yadav. They also smeared cow dung on an effigy of Rahul Gandhi before setting it on fire.
VHP Madhya Bharat Provincial Co-Minister Jitendra Chauhan alleged that the Opposition’s protest in Parliament had insulted Hindu faith.
“The way the protest was held by dressing as a saint and allegedly placing a picture of Ram Lalla on the ground has hurt the sentiments of crores of Hindus. Those who could not stop the construction of the Ram temple are now trying to defame Lord Ram,” he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bhopal, Rameshwar Sharma, also targeted the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi over the Parliament protest.
He alleged that the Opposition had repeatedly shown “disrespect” towards Lord Ram and Hindu faith and claimed that its actions had hurt the sentiments of devotees.
Sharma said those who insult Lord Ram and Hindu beliefs would face a strong response from the public.
“The Parliament protest has hurt the sentiments of Ram devotees. Such acts will not be accepted by the people,” the BJP MLA added.
The protest was held in response to a demonstration by Opposition MPs in the Parliament complex during the Monsoon Session over alleged irregularities in the management of offerings made by devotees at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
During the protest, Independent MP Pappu Yadav appeared dressed as a monk while Opposition leaders demanded transparency and an inquiry into the handling of temple offerings.
The BJP and Hindu organisations accused the Opposition of insulting Lord Ram and Hindu faith, while the Opposition said its protest was only to seek transparency and accountability in the management of temple offerings.
Police remained deployed at the protest site, and the demonstration ended peacefully after the protesters dispersed.
–IANS
pd/khz
