Slipper Thrown at MP Pappu Yadav Amid Ram Mandir Skit Furore

On Sunday, as Pappu Yadav—Member of Parliament from Purnia—was fielding reporters at his residence, a lone slipper flew across the room and struck him. The unexpected projectile sparked a brief scuffle, with Yadav’s supporters lunging forward to block further aggression.

Later, the visibly shaken MP told the press that the whole episode was no accident. “They keep shouting ‘Kill me, burn me down…’ and today they tried to do exactly that,” Yadav said, his voice quivering. He added that one of the men involved was brandishing a knife, implying a clear intent to kill.

Police have not yet confirmed the knife allegation, but the claim has already added another layer to an already volatile saga. The incident follows a satirical skit performed by opposition MPs inside the Parliament complex on July 31, where Yadav himself appeared in saffron robes playing a temple priest. The performance was meant to spotlight alleged irregularities in donations for the Ram Mandir, but it riled BJP leaders who accused the opposition of insulting Hindu sentiment.

Since the skit, a flurry of complaints has been lodged. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj and several party legislators filed FIRs in Delhi, while a separate case was registered in Varanasi after a religious leader’s grievance. Even the Bajrang Dal staged protests, demanding action against the participants.

Yadav, however, has remained defiant. He questions whether raising concerns about the Ram Mandir and the broader Hindu community should be deemed offensive. “If we can’t discuss the issue, then what are we fighting for?” he asked, echoing a sentiment shared by many opposition members.

As the story unfolds, the political atmosphere remains charged. Whether the slipper incident turns into a formal criminal case or remains a heated footnote depends largely on the police response and the ensuing political maneuvering.