New Delhi: Armed with scathing slogans and placards, the Samajwadi Party (SP)-led opposition aggressively cornered the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Tuesday (August 4) over the alleged embezzlement of the Ram temple donations and the NEET paper leak issue.The House witnessed chaotic scenes and continuous uproar as opposition members chanted slogans targeting the ruling party: “Neet ka parcha kahan milega, BJP ke daftar mein (Where will you find the NEET paper? In the BJP office)” and “Chanda Chor Kahan milenge, BJP ke daftar mein… Chanda chor gaddi chorr (Where will you find donation thieves? In the BJP office… Donation thieves, yield the throne)”.Leader of the opposition Mata Prasad Pandey demanded an immediate, dedicated discussion on the alleged embezzlement of Ram Mandir donation funds. Emphasising the gravity of the issue, Pandey said: “What could be a more significant issue than the theft of temple offerings, and yet we sit here in the House without discussing it?”Later, speaking to news channels in his office, Pandey directly accused the ruling party of orchestrating the scam and evading accountability.“These people orchestrated the theft of the temple offerings. We wanted to discuss this matter because Lord Ram is revered by Sanatanis across the entire country, who hold deep faith in Him. What could be more serious than others stealing offerings meant for Lord Ram and converting them into their own personal wealth?” he said, confirming he had submitted a formal notice for the debate.Adding fuel to the protest, senior SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav accused the government of silencing democratic dissent by disrupting the broadcast of Assembly proceedings.“This is authoritarianism. The BJP is functioning in a completely authoritarian manner. Whether the House functions or not, we will continue our protest,” Yadav declared, warning that the opposition would continue to protest if its voice remained suppressed.Facing intense pressure from a united opposition, speaker Satish Mahana dismissed the notice for an urgent debate, stating that the “issue is neither urgent, nor has any calamity struck.”Mahana also appeared to mock opposition MLAs by asking them to show receipts of the money donated by them to the temple.The Congress shared a video of Mahana on X wherein the assembly speaker is seen asking Muslims MLAs including Suhaib Ansari, Umar Ali Khan and Shahid Manzoor to produce receipts of their donations to the Ram temple and saying that they had opposed the Ram temple right “from the beginning to the end.”“The position of speaker of the Legislative Assembly symbolises impartiality and constitutional dignity, not that of a spokesperson for a particular party. The manner in which opposition MLAs are being taunted and politically slandered while sitting on the speaker’s chair in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly raises serious questions about parliamentary traditions and the principles of neutrality,” the Congress slammed the speaker over his words.विधानसभा अध्यक्ष का पद निष्पक्षता और संवैधानिक मर्यादा का प्रतीक होता है, न कि किसी दल विशेष के प्रवक्ता का।उत्तर प्रदेश विधानसभा में जिस प्रकार अध्यक्ष की कुर्सी पर बैठकर विपक्षी विधायकों पर तंज कसे जा रहे हैं और राजनीतिक छींटाकशी की जा रही है, वह संसदीय परंपराओं और तटस्थता के… pic.twitter.com/idTsHODIj6— UP Congress (@INCUttarPradesh) August 4, 2026Mahana suspended SP MLA Sachin Yadav for the entire Monsoon session of the House for waving a photograph of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath during the loud protests.Adityanath defends speaker’s decision of not allowing discussionChief minister Adityanath defended the speaker’s decision of not allowing a discussion on the alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations. He accused the opposition of breaking Assembly protocol and “insulting” the House by raising a “sub-judice” matter.“Under Rule 59 of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly’s procedures, it is already decided that no discussion can take place on matters pending before any commission or court. The Speaker repeatedly said that they are ready for discussion per the rules, but waving placards and insulting the Chair is highly condemnable and shameful,” Adityanath said.He further claimed the opposition was attempting to “spoil the atmosphere” to evade discussing broader public interest issues.Attempting to counter the SP’s charges, UP minister of parliamentary affairs Suresh Khanna stated that the probe by the special investigation team (SIT) into the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ram temple did not implicate any BJP workers or sadhus.Raking up the past, Khanna remarked: “Those who ordered firing on karsevaks and created obstacles in the temple’s construction today talk about aastha (faith). What do they have to do with faith?”Despite the government’s defenses and procedural roadblocks, the SP maintained an aggressive stance in the House, especially when Adityanath rose to speak. The chief minister was barely audible over the din of the Opposition sloganeering.Omar Rashid is an independent journalist.