Samajwadi Party Protests Over Alleged Ram Mandir Donation Theft

Lawmakers from the Samajwadi Party, led by chief Akhilesh Yadav, protested at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament House in New Delhi on July 29, 2026. Protesters used slogans such as "chadawa chor, gaddi chor" to demand a high-level investigation into the alleged theft and misappropriation of donations collected for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. MP Ramgopal Yadav claimed financial irregularities date back to 1990 and argued that reported figures do not reflect the total amount received.

In response to directions from the Supreme Court of India, the Government of Uttar Pradesh established a new Special Investigation Team headed by Inspector General of Police Kiran S. The court ordered the SIT to include a forensic auditor and submit a status report within two weeks. Investigators have already arrested eight suspects while tracing the money trail.

Other opposition figures, including MP Afzal Ansari and CPI(M) MP John Brittas, have vowed to raise the embezzlement issue in Parliament, citing widespread public distress in rural areas. Separately, opposition leaders from the INDIA bloc, including Rahul Gandhi, intend to debate the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, provided the government ensures the fair treatment of protesting students.