Jauhar University demolition notice: AIMIM targets Akhilesh over BJP 'collusion'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Rampur District Administration (RDA)'s demolition notice against 38 of 40 structures at Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh has drawn sharp criticism from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), which has accused both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav of acting in tandem to bring down the minority institution founded by jailed SP leader Azam Khan. The notice, issued on Wednesday, alleges that the structures were raised without approved building plans.
AIMIM's Charge Against Akhilesh Yadav
AIMIM spokesperson Shadab Chauhan alleged that the SP government had left regulatory loopholes during the university's construction phase, which the current BJP administration is now exploiting. 'Samajwadi Party government left a loophole during its construction and using that as a premise, the current BJP dispensation is bent on destroying it, and this is being done with Akhilesh Yadav's full agreement,' Chauhan said.
Chauhan further alleged that the demolition action was deliberately timed to coincide with Yadav's ongoing foreign trip, allowing the SP chief to distance himself from the controversy. 'All of this is happening with Akhilesh Yadav's collusion. I hear he is abroad, and therefore his party won't launch any agitation despite a strength of 100 legislators in the Assembly,' he said.
Accusations of Minority Vote-Bank Politics
The AIMIM spokesperson accused Akhilesh Yadav of repeatedly failing to stand up for minority rights and treating the Muslim community as a mere electoral constituency. 'Whether it is encounter, mob lynching or bulldozer action, the Samajwadi Party, despite having a sizeable number of MPs and MLAs, has never emboldened the voice of minorities,' Chauhan remarked. 'For him, Muslims are nothing more than a vote bank,' he added.
Chauhan also questioned why officials who oversaw construction during the period when the allegedly unauthorised buildings were erected have not been held accountable. 'Shouldn't action be taken against the officials who were in charge when the buildings were constructed?' he asked.
The Jauhar University Demolition Row
Jauhar University, established by Azam Khan — a senior SP leader currently serving time in prison — has long been a politically sensitive institution in Rampur. The RDA's order targets 38 out of 40 structures on the campus, citing the absence of approved building plans. Critics argue the action amounts to an attack on minority educational infrastructure, while authorities maintain it is a routine enforcement of building regulations.
AIMIM's Chauhan questioned whether the demolition was consistent with the government's own stated commitment to inclusive development, asking whether razing existing minority institutions aligns with the 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' pledge.
Political Significance and What Comes Next
The row places the SP in a delicate position — the party commands over 100 legislators in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly but has, according to AIMIM, remained largely silent on the issue. With Akhilesh Yadav reportedly abroad, no formal SP agitation has been announced as of the time of reporting.
The controversy is likely to intensify as the demolition deadline approaches, with minority groups, opposition parties, and civil society expected to mount further pressure on both the state government and the SP leadership in the days ahead.