JSP MP seeks disciplinary action over Opposition’s Ram temple skit

Jana Sena Party MP Lingamaneni Ramesh has condemned the skit staged by Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, describing it as a mockery of Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma.

In a press release, Mr. Ramesh urged the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman to initiate disciplinary action against MPs who, he alleged, were staging protests on Parliament premises on religious lines.

He said denigrating Sanatana Dharma had become a recurring practice for the Congress and other Opposition parties. By dressing up as saints and through their gestures, Mr. Gandhi, Pappu Yadav and other MPs had hurt the sentiments of Hindus, he alleged. He described the skit as a deceptive performance intended to mislead the people and compared it to Ravana approaching Sita in the guise of an ascetic before abducting her.

Mr. Ramesh alleged that the Congress and its allies had consistently targeted Sanatana Dharma since the Ayodhya Sri Rama Janmabhoomi movement. He said Jana Sena Party president and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan had repeatedly asserted that any insult to Sanatana Dharma would not be tolerated, and that party cadres remained committed to protecting it.

Alleging that the Opposition was frustrated by the completion of the Sri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Mr. Ramesh claimed that this had led to what he termed malicious attacks on Hindu Dharma. Referring to the alleged theft of donations at the temple, he said the Uttar Pradesh Government had ordered a Special Investigation Team probe into the matter.