Yogi Adityanath slams SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi for remarks against PM Modi
Synopsis
UP CM Yogi Adityanath publicly condemned SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi after the lawmaker allegedly called PM Modi 'anti-national' during a protest outside a District Collector's office. With an FIR now registered, the episode spotlights the BJP-SP fault line in Uttar Pradesh and raises pointed questions about the limits of political speech.
Key Takeaways
UP CM Yogi Adityanath rebuked SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi on 12 May over remarks against PM Narendra Modi .
Adityanath called the remarks "indecent and unforgivable" and a blow to democratic decorum .
Uttar Pradesh Police registered an FIR against Lodhi based on a complaint by BJP workers .
Lodhi had allegedly called PM Modi "anti-national" during a protest outside the District Collector's office .
The SP MP said his protest against government failures would continue despite the police action.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 12 May sharply rebuked Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi over what he described as distasteful and disparaging remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The condemnation came hours after the Uttar Pradesh Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the Mahoba-Hamirpur-Teendwari Lok Sabha MP over the same remarks.
What Yogi Adityanath Said
Taking to social media, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the use of unparliamentary language against the Prime Minister was "not only indecent and unforgivable" but also dealt a serious blow to the country's democratic values and decorum. He described the SP MP's conduct as reflecting "political misconduct, ideological bankruptcy, and disrespect towards the dignity of public life."
Adityanath further characterised the remarks as an insult to the mandate and trust of 145 crore Indians, adding: "The people of the nation will give a fitting reply to such undignified behaviour at the right time."
The Incident That Triggered the FIR
The controversy erupted after SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi, leading a group of party workers, staged a protest outside the District Collector's office in his constituency. The group attempted to gherao the Collectorate, raised slogans, and protested against what they described as government failures on multiple fronts — including power shortages, drinking water crisis, and policy lapses.
During the demonstration, Lodhi allegedly crossed a line by calling Prime Minister Modi "anti-national" — a remark that drew immediate condemnation from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Based on a complaint filed by BJP workers, police registered an FIR against the SP lawmaker.
SP MP's Response
Despite the police case, Ajendra Singh Lodhi remained unfazed and said his protest against what he termed the misgovernance and misrule of the current dispensation would continue. He asserted that he would keep raising pressing public issues without bowing down to the "dictates" of the state administration.
Political Context
The episode underscores the intensifying political friction between the BJP-led state government and the SP ahead of future electoral cycles in Uttar Pradesh. Notably, this is not the first instance of opposition legislators facing police action over remarks made during protests in the state. Critics argue that deploying police machinery against elected representatives for political speech raises questions about the boundaries of free expression in a parliamentary democracy, while the ruling party maintains that personalised attacks on constitutional office-bearers cross a clear line.
The matter is likely to reverberate in the state legislature and may draw a response from the SP's central leadership in the coming days.
Point of View
Deploying police machinery against opposition legislators over protest slogans is a pattern in Uttar Pradesh that critics say has a chilling effect on dissent. Yogi Adityanath's social media broadside — framing the remark as an insult to 145 crore Indians — is as much electoral messaging as it is moral outrage. The SP, for its part, has little incentive to back down; Lodhi's defiance is calibrated to energise its base ahead of a long electoral cycle. The real question is whether the courts will treat this FIR as a legitimate grievance or another instance of using sedition-adjacent provisions to silence inconvenient voices.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi say about PM Modi?
SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi allegedly called Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'anti-national' during a protest staged outside a District Collector's office in his constituency. The remark was made while he led party workers in a demonstration against issues including power shortages and the drinking water crisis.
Why did Yogi Adityanath criticise Ajendra Singh Lodhi?
UP CM Yogi Adityanath condemned the SP MP's remarks as 'indecent and unforgivable,' saying they dealt a serious blow to democratic values and decorum. He characterised the conduct as political misconduct and an insult to the trust of 145 crore Indians.
Has an FIR been registered against SP MP Ajendra Singh Lodhi?
Yes, the Uttar Pradesh Police registered an FIR against Ajendra Singh Lodhi based on a complaint filed by BJP workers. The case relates to slanderous and personalised attacks on the Prime Minister made during the protest.
What was the SP MP protesting about?
Ajendra Singh Lodhi and his supporters had gathered at the District Collector's office to protest against government failures on multiple fronts, including power shortages, electricity cuts, and the drinking water crisis in his constituency.
What was Lodhi's response to the FIR?
Lodhi remained unfazed by the police action and said his protest against what he described as misgovernance would continue. He stated he would keep raising pressing public issues without bowing to the dictates of the state administration.
