Akhilesh hits out at BJP over demolition notice to University linked with Azam Khan

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday (July 16) accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of “seeing communalism even in education” after a demolition notice to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, run by Azam Khan.

Mr. Yadav was reacting to the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) demolition order for 38 of 40 buildings at Rampur based Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, run by the SP leader Azam Khan over illegal construction. The Congress demanded the Court to take Suo motu cognisance, calling it a targeted and motivated step for political gains.

“The BJP sees communalism even in education. Education, teachers, students, and the jobs that come with education are not on the BJP’s agenda. When will the BJP demolish the illegal buildings of its unregistered allies? When the allies themselves are unregistered, how can their buildings, offices, and institutions be legitimate? Condemnable,” wrote Mr. Yadav, on X. 

“Such action and demolition notice is part of a broader pattern by the BJP government to humiliate structures or places linked to Muslim community and leaders. Education is a bedrock empowerment and societal cohesion, to demolish the structure of a University imparting education is a criminal act. Many Universities across India, were built decades back, when 21st century building regulations were not present, hence numerous structure are on similar illegal yardstick, but to target one University shows a kind of attempt to polarise the society before election and send signal to a particular community that structure or educational institution linked to them will be targeted, the Court should take immediate Suo Moto cognisance in this case, “ said Shahnawaz Alam, National Secretary, Congress. 

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha said the regime that seeks to destroy universities, whether with bulldozers or through administrative repression, doesn’t merely demolish buildings; it attacks thought, conscience, and the future.

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Rampur Development Authority (RDA) on July 15 issued a demolition notice for 38 of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, linked to the SP leader Azam Khan describing these structures as constructed without permission. The RDA gave 15 days time to the University to remove the “unauthorised” construction, adding the administration will proceed with the demolition if the institution fails to comply. The order was issued by the RDA vice-chairperson and Rampur District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi under Section 27 of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973. Mr. Khan, is the chairperson of Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which runs the University.