The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs on Monday (July 28, 2025) held a protest outside Parliament against the recent remarks of a cleric about Samajwadi Party’s Lok Sabha member Dimple Yadav.

Maulana Sajid Rashidi, the cleric, had criticised Ms. Yadav, wife of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, for visiting a mosque near the Parliament without covering her head.

Talking to the media about the protest by BJP MPs, Ms. Yadav said it would have been better if they had protested against the violence in Manipur, the videos of which were circulated on social media.

Earlier, the BJP had accused the Samajwadi Party of holding a political meeting at the mosque, a charge refuted by the Opposition party. On social media, BJP leaders had shared a photograph of Mr. Yadav, his wife, another party MP Mohibulla Nadvi, who is also Imam of the mosque, and others sitting in the mosque.

Responding to the allegation, Mr. Yadav had accused the BJP leaders of having a “negative mindset”. “Faith is positive, it unites. The BJP gets upset with anything that unites. They want negativity, faith is for positive people. Faith unites, ensures brotherhood, it increases love and respect among people,” he had said. Ms. Yadav said it was a social gathering and there was no meeting.