Rajbhar: Akhilesh Yadav wants Azam Khan ruined, asks why SP didn't regularise Jauhar University land
Synopsis
UP Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar turned the Jauhar University demolition row into a direct indictment of Akhilesh Yadav — arguing that by failing to regularise the land during SP’s own tenure, Yadav effectively left Azam Khan’s institution exposed. The 15-day RDA deadline now puts both the university’s future and the SP’s political credibility on the line.
Key Takeaways
Om Prakash Rajbhar alleged on 20 July that Akhilesh Yadav himself wants jailed SP leader Azam Khan to be “ruined.” The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) ordered demolition of 38 out of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University for unauthorised construction.
The university has been given 15 days to remove illegal structures or face administration-led demolition.
Akhilesh Yadav called the university a “temple of education” and accused the BJP government of “narrow politics” in an X post.
Rajbhar questioned why the SP government did not transfer government land to the university during its five-year tenure in power.
Uttar Pradesh Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Monday, 20 July launched a sharp counter-attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that Yadav himself wanted jailed SP leader Azam Khan to be “ruined”. Rajbhar's remarks came in response to Akhilesh Yadav's criticism of the demolition drive targeting alleged illegal constructions at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur.
The Demolition Controversy at Jauhar University
The political storm erupted after the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) ordered the demolition of 38 out of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, citing construction without approval from the competent authority. The RDA has directed the university to remove the unauthorised structures within 15 days, warning that the administration will initiate demolition proceedings if the institution fails to comply.
The Uttar Pradesh government defended the action as being fully in accordance with the law, while the SP accused the BJP-led state government of acting with political vendetta.
What Rajbhar Said
“Akhilesh Yadav himself wants Azam Khan ruined. When his own government was in power, and public funds were utilised, why wasn’t the government land transferred to the university’s name?” Rajbhar said. He questioned why the previous SP government had failed to regularise the land during its tenure, framing the current controversy as one of Akhilesh Yadav’s own making.
Rajbhar also pushed back against Yadav’s repeated invocations of socialist ideals, arguing that the SP chief must first abandon dynastic politics before claiming to follow socialist principles. “If he talks about socialism, he must first break free from dynastic politics. He should start by not giving election tickets to members of his own family. Only then can he truly speak of socialism,” Rajbhar said, invoking socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia’s principles.
Akhilesh Yadav’s Stand
Earlier, in a post on X, Akhilesh Yadav had urged the public to support efforts to save the university, calling it a “temple of education.” He alleged that the BJP-led UP government was attempting to make the institution a victim of its “narrow politics” and was trying to “bulldoze the dreams” of thousands of students and their families.
Rajbhar Targets Maulana Madani Too
Rajbhar also responded to Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani’s criticism of the demolition action, posing the same question about the SP government’s inaction. “I want to ask Maulana Madani: When Akhilesh Yadav’s government was in power for five years, why wasn’t the government land transferred to the educational institution?” he asked.
What Happens Next
The Jauhar University controversy has sharpened the political divide ahead of future electoral cycles in Uttar Pradesh, with the BJP and its allies framing the action as rule of law enforcement and the SP positioning it as targeted harassment. The university’s compliance — or defiance — within the 15-day deadline set by the RDA will determine the next move by authorities.
Point of View
But it does not automatically validate the scale of the current action — 38 of 40 buildings is a near-total demolition of a functioning university. The invocation of Lohia against Akhilesh is a recurring BJP-alliance playbook move that resonates with OBC voters but rarely changes the underlying political arithmetic in Rampur. The real story is whether Azam Khan’s political base — already battered by his imprisonment — can survive another institutional blow.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Jauhar University facing demolition action?
The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) ordered demolition of 38 out of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, stating the structures were built without approval from the competent authority. The university has been given 15 days to remove the unauthorised constructions before the administration steps in.
What did Akhilesh Yadav say about the Jauhar University demolition?
Akhilesh Yadav, in a post on X, called the university a ‘temple of education’ and alleged the BJP-led UP government was targeting it through ‘narrow politics.’ He urged the public to support efforts to save the institution and claimed the government was trying to ‘bulldoze the dreams’ of thousands of students.
What is Om Prakash Rajbhar’s allegation against Akhilesh Yadav?
Rajbhar alleged that Akhilesh Yadav himself wants Azam Khan to be ruined, arguing that the previous SP government had failed to transfer government land to the university despite being in power for five years. He questioned why the land was not regularised when public funds had already been utilised.
Who is Azam Khan and what is his connection to Jauhar University?
Azam Khan is a senior Samajwadi Party leader and former UP minister who is currently in jail. Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur is closely associated with him and has been at the centre of multiple legal controversies involving land and construction.
What did Rajbhar say about Maulana Arshad Madani’s criticism?
Rajbhar responded to Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani’s criticism by asking why the SP government had not transferred government land to the university during its five-year rule, implying that the current crisis was a result of that inaction.
