Independent MP Pappu Yadav said he was targeted in an attack during a press conference in the Delhi Parliament complex on Sunday [1, 2].
The incident highlights escalating tensions surrounding the alleged misappropriation of donations for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Because the event occurred within the high-security zone of the Parliament complex, it raises questions about security protocols and the safety of lawmakers during political disputes.
According to reports, a slipper was thrown at the Purnia lawmaker during the event [2, 3]. Yadav said the attack was retaliation for his participation in an opposition protest regarding the temple donations [3]. He said the event was an attempt on his life [1].
Reports on the severity of the incident vary. One source said a man armed with a knife was detained after the slipper was thrown [2]. However, other reports described the event as a disruption of the press conference and did not mention a weapon [2].
Yadav said he has received severe threats following the incident. "I should be burnt alive," Yadav said, describing the messages he has received [1].
"The attack was because of the Ram Mandir donation issue," Yadav said during the press conference [3].
The lawmaker continues to call for transparency regarding the funds collected for the temple. He said the targeting of political figures for raising financial questions about religious institutions is a dangerous trend [1, 3].
“"I should be burnt alive," Yadav said, describing the threats he has received.”
This incident underscores the volatile intersection of religious sentiment and political accountability in India. By linking a physical attack to the Ram Mandir donation controversy, Yadav is framing the security breach not as a random act of disruption, but as a targeted effort to silence opposition regarding the management of one of the country's most sensitive religious projects.
