FIR Against Cleric Over Vulgar Remarks On Dimple Yadav: Parliament Erupts
SP MP Dimple Yadav targeted with sexist comments after mosque visit; NDA MPs protest, FIR filed against Maulana Sajid Rashidi
New Delhi, July 28: The dust still hasn’t settled around Dimple Yadav’s mosque visit, but today the fallout turned sharper. What began as murmurs about etiquette spiraled into outrage after Maulana Sajid Rashidi, a senior cleric and president of the All India Imam Association, made deeply misogynistic remarks about the Samajwadi Party MP during a TV panel. The kind that sting not just the target, but every woman listening.
Police Case Filed As Remarks Spark Fury
Late morning, Lucknow Police booked Rashidi under a string of serious charges everything from promoting enmity to outraging a woman’s modesty, under new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections and the IT Act. The case was registered on a complaint filed by SP leader Pravesh Yadav, who said Rashidi’s language crossed every civil and moral line. “This isn’t just about Dimple-ji,” he told reporters. “It’s an insult to all women. We won’t let it pass.”
The remarks in question? Ugly, vulgar, and deeply personal. On live television, Rashidi claimed that Dimple Yadav “barely covered her back” during her mosque visit an unprovoked, body-shaming jab that many called indecent even by political debate standards.
Parliament Protests, Slogans Outside House
By afternoon, the temperature had risen outside Parliament. NDA MPs, mostly from the BJP, staged a demonstration just outside the building gates. Holding placards and shouting slogans about women’s dignity, the message was clear: this won’t go unchallenged. “Where are those who claim to stand for women’s respect now?” yelled one protester.
Interestingly, while BJP leaders came out swinging, much of the anger was also directed at Akhilesh Yadav. “Why hasn’t he spoken?” asked BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, speaking to reporters. “His own wife is being targeted like this, and the SP is silent?”
The chants outside Parliament were unmistakable: “Naari ka apmaan, nahi sahenge hum ek bhi baar” We won’t tolerate even one insult to a woman.
The Trigger: A Saree, A Mosque, And A Moment Caught On Camera
It all started two days ago. Dimple Yadav, along with Akhilesh and a few other SP leaders, visited a mosque on Delhi’s Sansad Marg. Photos and short clips showed her in a saree, hair uncovered. For some, that was enough to trigger a cultural flashpoint. Soon after, several conservative voices began criticising her for not covering her head inside a place of worship.
But the debate took a dark turn with Rashidi’s televised comments. It wasn’t just religious protocol anymore it became personal, ugly, and, as many called it, absolutely unacceptable.
Dimple Yadav Keeps Her Distance, But Fires A Sharp Question
Dimple Yadav herself has stayed largely quiet since the incident went viral, avoiding the media scrum today. But she did speak yesterday, and her words were sharp. “Where were these BJP MPs when women were being dragged naked in Manipur?” she asked reporters. No slogans then. No placards.
Her point landed hard. It was less about the cleric and more about political consistency. Or the lack of it.
Silence From SP Leadership Adds to the Tension
If there’s one thing that stood out today, it was the Samajwadi Party’s silence. Akhilesh Yadav has been present in Parliament, walking the corridors and attending sessions. But not a word publicly about his wife being slandered on national television. Some party insiders told The Hindu he may speak during Zero Hour tomorrow. Others aren’t so sure.
Whatever the reason, the silence is being noticed and used.
Public Reaction Split Between Outrage And Exhaustion
Online, the reactions have been intense. Women across party lines condemned the cleric’s statement. Prominent Muslim voices said Rashidi does not represent their faith or values. But there’s also a quieter, more exhausted sentiment surfacing how many times will women have to justify their clothing, their choices, their presence?
“This isn’t about religion,” one social media user posted. “It’s about power. About who gets to police whom.”
Where This Might Be Headed
The FIR is just the beginning. Police in Lucknow confirmed that digital evidence clips from the show and social media posts are being collected. Charges under the IT Act could stick, considering the remarks were broadcast and circulated online. If taken seriously, this case could set precedent for how public speech, especially against women, is treated under the new laws.
There’s also a growing push from women’s organisations to ensure this doesn’t get buried under parliamentary procedures or party politics. Some are already planning demonstrations in Delhi and Lucknow.
Final Thoughts
At the heart of it, this incident is about more than Dimple Yadav, Rashidi, or even the Samajwadi Party. It’s about what we’re willing to tolerate in public life. About how women in power are still reduced to what they wear. And about how quickly lines of dignity get crossed under the excuse of “debate.”
For now, Dimple Yadav walks the Parliament corridors quietly, head high, saree intact. But make no mistake this one’s not going away anytime soon.
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Amit Singh is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, where he covers the intricate dynamics of Indian politics and global geopolitical shifts. Currently pursuing his studies at Delhi University, Amit brings a keen analytical mind and a passion for factual reporting to his daily coverage, providing readers with well-researched insights into the forces shaping national and international affairs.
- Amit Singhhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/amit_s/
- Amit Singhhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/amit_s/
- Amit Singhhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/amit_s/
- Amit Singhhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/amit_s/
