Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders and workers took to the streets in Ayodhya on Tuesday to protest the Rampur Development Authority's (RDA) order directing the demolition of 38 out of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, alleging the move is driven by political vendetta. The protesters submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India to the city's District Magistrate, demanding an immediate halt to the proposed action.

What the RDA Order Says

The Rampur Development Authority flagged multiple alleged violations within the university campus, claiming that 38 of the institution's 40 buildings were constructed without the required sanctioned approvals. The authority issued a notice asking the university to remove the structures on its own within a stipulated timeframe, warning that district administration would step in to raze them if the deadline passed without compliance.

SP's Demands and Allegations

The protest in Ayodhya was led by former minister and former MLA Tej Narayan Pandey, who addressed the media alongside scores of party workers raising slogans in support of the university. The SP's memorandum demanded that all parties be given an opportunity to present their case through proper legal procedures, and called for intervention against what the party described as a 'malicious and vindictive' move by the state government.

Pandey argued that the administration should allow the university to rectify any technical or documentary deficiencies rather than demolishing an entire educational institution. 'The country cannot be strengthened by running bulldozers over temples of learning. If there are shortcomings regarding the university's building, blueprints, or other documents, an opportunity should be given to address them in accordance with the rules,' he said.

He further alleged that the government's targeting of a single educational institution with a bulldozer was politically motivated, and claimed the administration would rather 'shut down schools and open liquor shops in their place.'

Background: Jauhar University and Azam Khan

Mohammad Ali Jauhar University was founded by senior SP leader Azam Khan, who has been at the centre of a prolonged legal and political battle with the Uttar Pradesh government in recent years. The university, located in Rampur, has been a flashpoint between the SP and the ruling establishment, with the party consistently framing state actions against the institution as politically motivated. This is not the first time the university has faced regulatory scrutiny, but the RDA's demolition order — covering the bulk of its campus structures — marks a significant escalation.

Protests Across Uttar Pradesh

The Ayodhya demonstration is part of a broader wave of SP protests intensifying across Uttar Pradesh as the demolition deadline draws closer. Party leaders have framed the issue as an attack on minority educational rights and on the legacy of Azam Khan. With the deadline approaching, the SP is expected to continue mobilising workers at the district level while pursuing legal and administrative remedies simultaneously.