New Delhi: A man allegedly hurled a slipper at Independent MP Pappu Yadav during a press conference at his residence on Sunday after the lawmaker defended his skit inside the Parliament House complex on the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple. The incident triggered a scuffle between Yadav's supporters and the attacker.
According to police, the accused, identified as Sumit (34) from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, has no previous criminal record. Officials said he works at an iron fabrication business in Ghaziabad. Police are yet to issue an official statement after interrogating the accused.
Yadav has been at the centre of a controversy over his July 31 protest, with an FIR being registered in Varanasi against him, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party MP from Faizabad (Ayodhya) Awadhesh Prasad for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
While Yadav was addressing the press conference, a man questioned him over his actions and alleged that the MP had insulted Lord Ram. He then threw a slipper at Yadav, following which a scuffle broke out between the Purnia MP's supporters and the attacker. Yadav later alleged that it was an attempt on his life.
A police source said another man, identified as Happy, was waiting inside an SUV parked outside Yadav's residence when the incident took place.
Investigators are verifying their claims and probing the motive behind the incident.
Rajesh Ranjan, popularly known as Pappu Yadav, dressed in saffron attire, performed the skit on Friday in the Parliament House complex along with other Opposition MPs near the Makar Dwar to protest the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, placed money inside donation boxes, while Yadav slipped money into his pockets to symbolise the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple.
The BJP on Sunday accused Gandhi and Yadav of hurting Hindu sentiments and demanded that they publicly apologise.
However, a defiant Yadav said they were protesting to protect Sanatan Dharma and would not be cowed down by any number of FIRs.
He was reacting a day after a case was registered in Varanasi on a complaint filed by seers against him, Gandhi and Awadhesh Prasad. Separately, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj and other party leaders filed a police complaint in Delhi.
The RSS affiliate Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) also criticised Gandhi and Yadav, alleging that the two leaders had insulted Sanatan Dharma through the protest staged inside the Parliament complex.