Lucknow: Carrying temple ‘daan patra’ in hand, Samajwadi Party MPs staged a protest on Parliament campus against donation theft at Ram Temple in Ayodhya and BJP’s ‘failure’ to check the incident.The protest was led by Samajwadi Party president and Kannauj MP Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav, who is the party MP from Mainpuri. Accompanied by other parliamentarians from the party, the two went to MPs cutting across party lines, seeking donations in steel ‘daan patra’.Asked to comment on why SP was staging a protest over donation theft outside when inside the Parliament the debate on Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was underway, Akhilesh said BJP’s intentions were questionable.“Those who could not protect ‘daan patra’ and the donation in it that was given by devotees out of reverence, you cannot expect much from them. Will they be able to check paper leak? Don’t expect them to ensure that examinations are not cancelled due to a paper leak,” Akhilesh said.He said the message is clear that those who can make a mockery of people’s faith, can make a mess out of the future of youths as well. “The biggest crisis is govt itself,” he said.Dimple also attacked govt over the issue.“BJP govt was unable to check donation theft. Their own companions and associates are involved in it. This was not just any donation. It had people’s sentiments, emotions and faith associated with it,” Dimple said.Asked if the SP MPs were not satisfied with the SIT probe into the donation theft, Dimple said another SIT was formed 2 years back after allegations of bungling in purchase of land by temple trust had surfaced.“But what happened to that SIT, no one knows,” she said.‘Home Ministry must explain use of pellet guns, stun batons’Akhilesh said the Union home department must explain the use of pellet guns and stun batons on protesting youth and students at Jantar Mantar.“Pellet guns were fired and tear gas shells were used. Protesters were injured. The police function under the Union Home Ministry. If these measures were not taken on the ministry’s instructions, then who authorised the use of such force?” he asked.
