SP Storms UP Assembly with Donation Boxes, Targets Yogi Govt Over Ayodhya, NEET and Student Issues

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party (SP) launched a high-voltage protest inside the Uttar Pradesh Assembly complex on Monday ahead of the Monsoon Session, with party MLAs carrying donation boxes, banners and placards to corner the Yogi Adityanath government over a range of issues. The protest focused on the alleged theft of Ram Mandir donations, the NEET paper leak, reservation, pending recruitments and the alleged lathi-charge on students at Jantar Mantar.

Several SP legislators marched through the Assembly premises holding donation boxes as a symbolic protest, accusing the government of failing to ensure accountability in the alleged Ayodhya donation theft case. SP MLA Atul Pradhan claimed that only “small fish” had been arrested while the “main culprits” were still at large. Party leaders also demanded answers on education-related issues, including the NEET controversy and delayed recruitment drives.

Responding to the Opposition’s protest, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said the government was fully prepared to debate every issue raised by the Opposition on the floor of the House. He announced that the state’s supplementary budget would be presented in the Assembly at 12:30 PM on Tuesday.

Khanna also criticized remarks made against Sanatan Dharma during recent political debates, saying such comments were unacceptable. Referring to statements made by MP Pappu Yadav, he alleged that Hindu culture had been insulted and asserted that the government would respond appropriately during the Assembly proceedings.

Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey said the SP would strongly raise the alleged Ayodhya donation theft, the NEET paper leak, youth-related concerns and education issues throughout the session. Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ also joined the protest, stating that the Congress would continue to press the Ayodhya issue in the Assembly, just as it had in Parliament.

Adding a symbolic touch to the protest, SP MLA Ashutosh Verma reached the Assembly on a bicycle fitted with a donation box, saying the Opposition would force the government to answer questions related to the alleged Ayodhya donation theft. SP MLA Naseem Solanki also demanded accountability over the alleged police action against students.

Meanwhile, SP leader Irfan Solanki commented on recent organisational changes within the BSP, alleging that party chief Mayawati was facing pressure from the ruling establishment. He claimed that Dalit leaders were being sidelined and that the issue deserved serious attention.