Samajwadi Party Protests Rampur University Demolition Orders

The Samajwadi Party is organizing a series of protests to oppose the planned demolition of 38 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur. The Rampur Development Authority ordered the removal of over 82,000 square metres of construction, alleging the structures were built without approved sanctioned plans. The authority provided the Jauhar Trust with a 15-day window to remove the buildings before the district administration intervenes.

Protests began on July 21 in Ayodhya, where former minister Tej Narayan Pandey led workers in submitting a memorandum to the District Magistrate addressed to the President of India. Pandey described the government's actions as a political vendetta and argued that educational institutions should not be razed. Following instructions from National President Akhilesh Yadav, the party formed a 28-member high-level delegation to visit Rampur on July 23. This delegation, led by Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey, intends to submit a further memorandum to the Rampur District Magistrate.

The party contends that the demolitions violate the constitutional Right to Education and specifically target students from poor, backward, and Dalit communities. The university is a flagship project of imprisoned SP leader Mohammad Azam Khan.