Prayagraj, Aug 4 A court here on Tuesday took cognisance of a criminal complaint filed against Independent MP from Bihar's Purnia Pappu Yadav over his controversial skit in the Parliament complex during a protest on the Ram temple donation theft issue, and summoned him to appear on August 11.
The complaint was filed before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Prayagraj, by high court advocate and BJP legal cell's Uttar Pradesh co-convenor Sushil Kumar Mishra.
According to the complainant, MP Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, dressed as a Hindu seer during the protest in the Parliament complex, enacted a symbolic scene depicting the alleged misappropriation of temple offerings.
Mishra alleged that the performance hurt the religious sentiments of followers of Sanatan Dharma and insulted Hindu seers, priests and religious symbols by using their traditional attire for a political protest.
He contended that the "fabricated enactment" had the potential to create religious discord and social tension.
The complaint alleged that by portraying Hindu seers and temple priests in a derogatory manner while referring to the alleged theft of Ram temple donations, the protest sought to offend the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.
After hearing the complaint, the court directed Yadav to appear before it on August 11.
During the July 31 protest, the MPs, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, put money inside donation boxes, while Pappu Yadav, dressed in a saffron outfit, slipped money into his pockets to symbolise the alleged theft at the Ram temple.
The protest has sparked a row with the BJP and Hindu outfits calling it an insult to Sanatan Dharma. An FIR was also filed against Yadav, Gandhi and SP's Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad in Varanasi on a complaint by Hindu seers who accused the opposition leaders of hurting religious sentiments.
Yadav, however, said his protest was aimed at "protecting Sanatan" and he would not be cowed down by FIRs.
