​​​​​​​New Delhi, August 13: Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs on Thursday donated ₹2,15,490 collected during their recent protest in Parliament, along with two silver coins, at an ancient Lord Hanuman temple in Connaught Place, Delhi.

The SP MPs said the money was contributed by MPs from the party and other Opposition parties during the ongoing Monsoon Session. The donation was offered at the temple, and the MPs received a receipt for the contribution.

SP MP Akshay Yadav said the donation box had initially been brought to Parliament as part of their protest over allegations of theft of donations collected for the Ram temple. However, people began contributing to it after seeing the box, which, he said, demonstrated the depth of public faith.

Yadav demanded strict punishment for those responsible and called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe headed by a sitting judge, saying the Opposition had doubts about the ongoing investigation.

Another SP MP, Ruchi Veera, said the donation was dedicated to Lord Hanuman and accused the BJP and RSS of misleading devotees and misusing religious sentiments. She said the Opposition hoped the matter would be properly investigated and those responsible would face consequences.

The donation comes amid a political confrontation in Parliament over allegations of theft or misuse of donations collected in the name of the Ram temple. Opposition MPs have demanded that the issue be discussed in Parliament, maintaining that their protest is not against the temple or religious faith but against alleged financial irregularities and the need for accountability.

SP MPs and other Opposition leaders have staged demonstrations inside the Parliament complex over the issue in recent days. The ruling NDA has criticised the protests, accusing the Opposition of disrupting parliamentary proceedings. Opposition leaders, however, have argued that the allegations concern public faith, donations and accountability and therefore warrant discussion in the House.