Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has targeted the Uttar Pradesh government after a dispute between members of the SP’s student wing and ABVP workers at Firoz Gandhi Degree College in Rae Bareli escalated into a larger confrontation involving police and party workers.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister accused the state government of practising “sajatiyavad” (casteism) while reacting to the developments in Rae Bareli.
In a post on X, Yadav said, “Uttar Pradesh does not have a government; ‘sajatiyavad’ is running the state.”
He also alleged that members of the PDA were being targeted by those in power. “Those in power are continuously attacking the PDA to show their authority. Every attack on the PDA will always keep the BJP away from power,” he said.
The PDA refers to the Samajwadi Party’s political framework involving “Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak” communities.
How the Rae Bareli dispute started
The controversy began at Firoz Gandhi Degree College during an awareness and membership campaign organised by the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha.
Members of the student organisation and ABVP workers came face-to-face at the college, following which an argument broke out. The situation later escalated into heated exchanges and a confrontation, prompting police personnel to reach the spot and intervene.
SP Rae Bareli district president Virendra Yadav and other party leaders subsequently arrived at the location.
The dispute then moved beyond the college premises, with SP leaders and workers later gathering outside the office of the Superintendent of Police.
SP workers protest over police action
The issue intensified after SP leaders alleged that police personnel manhandled party workers, including MLA Rahul Lodhi, during the developments at the SP office.
On Friday, SP workers gathered at Shaheed Chowk and marched towards the offices of the Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate.
Several party leaders participated in the protest, including SP state secretary Shashikant Sharma, Harchandpur MLA Rahul Lodhi and Bachhrawan MLA Shyam Sundar Bharti.
SP district president Virendra Yadav said the District Magistrate listened to their complaints and assured them that the matter would be examined.
Police reject allegations of assault
The police have disputed the allegations made on social media and by SP workers.
Circle Officer (City) Ashish Nigam said both sides had submitted their complaints and objections to the college administration and authorities.
He rejected claims that police personnel had assaulted students or political workers, describing such allegations as “completely false, misleading and baseless.”
According to the police version, officers intervened at the college to prevent the situation from worsening and to maintain peace and law and order.
The contrasting claims from the SP and police have added another layer to the dispute, while authorities continue to examine the events surrounding the college confrontation.
The incident has now become a political issue in Uttar Pradesh, with Akhilesh Yadav using the episode to target the state government while the police maintain that their intervention was aimed at preventing a further escalation.
