Pappu Yadav Alleges Assassination Plot After Parliament Satire

Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, commonly known as Pappu Yadav, alleged an assassination attempt occurred at his New Delhi residence on Sunday, August 2, 2026. During a press conference, a man identified as Sumit Sharma allegedly hurled a slipper at the lawmaker and attempted to attack him with a knife. Yadav claimed a bounty of 51 lakh rupees had been placed on his life, stating that individuals linked to the BJP and RSS orchestrated the plot. Delhi Police detained suspects Sumit and Happy Sharma, though Happy Sharma denied possessing a weapon and claimed he was assaulted by the MP's supporters.

The incident follows a July 31 satirical skit in the Parliament complex where Yadav, dressed as a priest, alleged financial irregularities in Ram Mandir donations. In response, BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal filed a Notice of Breach of Privilege and Contempt of the House, arguing the act ridiculed Hindu religious sentiments and lowered the dignity of Parliament. Additionally, the Varanasi Police registered an FIR against Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, and other opposition leaders for allegedly insulting Sanatan Dharma.

Opposition leaders from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT) condemned the violence as an attack on freedom of expression. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called the incident a grave security lapse, while Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera criticized the Delhi Police for failing to protect a sitting Member of Parliament. Dimple Yadav characterized the legal actions against the opposition as a diversion from government corruption scandals.