BJP, NDA MPs Protest In Parliament Over 'Misogynistic Remarks' On Dimple Yadav; FIR Filed Against Sajid Rashidi

BJP MPs led by Bansuri Swaraj staged a protest inside the Parliament complex on Sunday, condemning what they called "misogynistic and inflammatory" remarks made by Islamic cleric Maulana Sajid Rashidi against Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav. NDA lawmakers held placards reading: “Nari garima par prahar, nahi karenge kabhi bhi sweekar”, a message against attacks on women’s dignity.

MPs from across the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) participated in the protest. Holding placards, they called Rashidi’s comment an “insult to the women’s community”, saying the country would not tolerate such remarks. Speaking to reporters, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) MP Shambhavi Choudhary said that for the NDA, “the honour and prestige of women is of utmost priority.”

Bansuri Swaraj directly questioned SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s silence on the issue, asking why he had not come forward to defend his wife. She called it a clear sign of "appeasement politics" and demanded that the Samajwadi Party take accountability for failing to respond to the cleric’s remarks.

The controversy began after SP MPs, including Akhilesh and Dimple Yadav, visited the Parliament Street mosque on July 24 along with party MPs Iqra Hasan and Mohibullah Nadvi. While the SP maintained it was a social visit, BJP leaders and some Muslim clerics claimed it violated religious norms. BJP Minority Morcha head Jamal Siddiqui criticised Dimple Yadav for entering the mosque without covering her head, alleging that her attire was inappropriate for the setting and had disrespected Islamic traditions. Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, also demanded that both Dimple and Nadvi issue public apologies for what he called a politicisation of a religious place.

Tensions escalated further after Maulana Sajid Rashidi made a series of derogatory and communal remarks during televised debates. On July 28, the Lucknow Police registered an FIR against him under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act. The charges include promoting enmity, outraging a woman’s modesty, and disturbing communal harmony. The complaint was filed by a private individual, Pravesh Yadav; BJP leaders later extended public support to the FIR and demanded swift legal action.

Reacting to the protests and the FIR, Dimple Yadav said: “It’s good what is happening, it is good that FIR was registered. It would have been better if they would have protested when the incidents against women happened in Manipur. After Operation Sindoor, BJP leaders made indecent remark against our Armed Forces officer, it would have been better if they had stood against it.”

The Samajwadi Party has denied all allegations of wrongdoing. Akhilesh Yadav defended the mosque visit, saying it was a courtesy call made at the invitation of Mohibullah Nadvi. He accused the BJP of using religion as a political weapon and said the party was trying to divert attention from issues like the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. “BJP’s language divides. We stand with everyone,” he said in response to the row.

The SP continues to maintain that no religious sentiments were intentionally hurt, and that the BJP is attempting to communalise the matter for political mileage.

Meanwhile, opposition MPs also staged a separate protest outside Parliament against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar.