Attack on PDA: Akhilesh hits out at Yogi govt after ABVP, SP student leaders clash
Akhilesh Yadav attacked the Uttar Pradesh government after a clash between SP and ABVP workers at a Rae Bareli college. The episode triggered protests, casteism allegations and a sharp police rebuttal.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday attacked the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over a confrontation between workers of the party's student wing and members of the RSS-affiliated ABVP at a college in Rae Bareli, alleging that "sajatiyavad" (casteism) was running the state.
In a post on X, the former UP Chief Minister said, "Uttar Pradesh does not have a government; 'sajatiyavad' is running the state," while sharing a video clip of a news report on the incident.
He also said, "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."
"PDA" refers to the "Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak" social formula which is central to Samajwadi Party's
The remarks came as a large number of SP workers, led by the party's Rae Bareli district president Engineer Virendra Yadav, marched to the offices of the superintendent of police and the district magistrate to protest over the episode.
The protest followed a confrontation on Thursday between SP's student wing, the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, and workers of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad at Firoz Gandhi Degree College.
The SP student wing was carrying out an awareness campaign when its members came face-to-face with ABVP workers, leading to an argument.
Police reached the spot and pacified both sides. Virendra Yadav, along with other office-bearers of the party, also arrived there, and an argument reportedly took place between him and the police station in-charge.
SP leaders and workers later reached the office of the superintendent of police, from where police allegedly removed them and manhandled some of them, including a party MLA.
On Friday, SP workers gathered again in public before proceeding to the offices of the superintendent of police and the district magistrate.
Party state secretary, Shashikant Sharma, Harchandpur MLA Rahul Lodhi and Bachhrawan MLA Shyam Sundar Bharti were among those present. Virendra Yadav said the district magistrate heard their concerns and assured them of an inquiry.
Earlier, Circle Officer (City) Ashish Nigam said both sides had submitted their demands and objections through memoranda and complaints to the college administration and officials.
He rejected allegations circulating on social media that police had assaulted students or workers, calling them "completely false, misleading and baseless."
The official said the police had intervened only to maintain peace and law and order.