‘Chanda chor’ slogans, bandaged MLAs: Samajwadi Party targets BJP

The protest used different symbols to highlight the Opposition party’s allegations against the government while indicating the issues it is likely to raise in the House during the session.

While some legislators carried donation boxes in an apparent reference to the controversy surrounding the Ram Temple ‘donation’ theft, others wore bandages to protest the alleged use of force against youth during the NEET protest in Delhi.

Other legislators carried posters alleging an “attack on the right to education”, linking the issue to the recent demolition notice served to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur as well as the SP’s allegations over reduction in the number of teachers in government schools.

Speaking to The Indian Express, SP legislator Ragini Sonkar said the party will seek a discussion in the Assembly on the Ram Temple donation issue.

“While we will be raising the issue of how the government is weakening the education system and neglecting farmers, the most significant issue is how the BJP is playing with people’s faith by supporting the theft of Ram Temple donations. We will request the government for a debate on the issue,” Sonkar said.

SP MLA Sachin Yadav arrived at the Assembly with a symbolic bandage tied around his forehead and a plaster on one hand. He told The Indian Express that he wanted to raise the issue of the alleged paper leak and the lathi-charge on students who protested against it.

SP MLA Sachin Yadav arrived at the Assembly with a symbolic bandage tied around his forehead and a plaster on one hand. (Express Photo)

“All those who protested against the paper leak are facing police action now. Is this democracy? We are going to raise it in the assembly,” he said.

CM hits back

Taking a swipe at the Opposition for raking up the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Mandir, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said those raising the issue “did not contribute even a single penny” towards the temple’s construction.

Talking to mediapersons before the start of the Monsoon session of the state Assembly, the CM said, “Those who are talking about donation theft in Ram Mandir are the very people who did not contribute even a single penny for its construction from their pockets. The country and the world are witnessing their double standards.”

The CM also announced the long-awaited Outsourcing Commission would be made functional within the next one to one-and-a-half weeks, and the government would ensure a minimum honorarium for outsourced workers and continue welfare measures for Anganwadi staff, ASHA workers, cooks and village chowkidars through provisions made in the supplementary budget.

Adityanath also appealed to the Opposition to ensure smooth functioning of the House, saying the Legislature was the appropriate forum to discuss issues concerning farmers, youth, women and the poor. “The time of the House should be utilised effectively. I hope that political parties would move beyond negative politics and participate in constructive discussions,” he said.

Targeting the SP on the issue of farmers, the Chief Minister contrasted his government’s record with that of previous governments, claiming that while 29 sugar mills were shut between 2007 and 2017 and 21 were sold at “throwaway prices”, his government made sugarcane payments exceeding Rs 3.23 lakh crore and that over 105 of the state’s 122 sugar mills were now transferring payments directly into farmers’ accounts within four to five days.

He said the Legislature played a central role in policymaking over the last nine years and credited discussions in the House for what he described as UP’s transformation from a “BIMARU” state into a revenue-surplus economy. He claimed more than 6 crore people had been lifted out of poverty during this period.

The proceedings of the House began with the singing of the full version of Vande Mataram, following which members observed condolences for sitting and former legislators who passed away after the previous session. Among those remembered was Samajwadi Party MLA Alam Badi Azmi, the oldest serving member of the UP Assembly. The House was adjourned for the day after the obituary references.