SP MPs raise student movement, reservation and PDA concerns in Parliament protest
A group of Samajwadi Party parliamentarians marched outside the Parliament on August 6, using the platform to spotlight the Ram Temple climbing controversy and a series of other issues they say the government is ignoring.
The MPs demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah appear before the House to answer questions about the alleged incident at the Ayodhya shrine. At the same time, they drew attention to student unrest in Jharkhand, where a five‑member committee representing the protesting students is set to meet the state government.
Avadhesh Prasad stressed that Jharkhand is a key state and that the opposition stands with the students, while cautioning that any assurances from the chief minister will only emerge after the meeting.
Anand Bhadouria defended the SP’s PDA (Backward, Dalit and Minority) ideology, claiming the party has always respected the Brahmin community, citing the recent celebration of Lohia Jnaneshwar Mishra’s birth anniversary in Lucknow as proof of its inclusive stance.
In Prayagraj, Dharmendra Yadav slammed the cancellation of the Congress “Students’ Echo” event, accusing the government of trying to mute student voices. He argued that the BJP avoids any serious debate on student matters, yet both students and the opposition continue to raise them.
Yadav also criticised the central government’s approach to women’s reservation, questioning the need for fresh legislation when the BJP campaigned in 2024 on the “Women Power Honour Act.” He suggested that the opposition has already questioned the intent behind the proposal.
Addressing Uttar Pradesh politics, he alleged that the Brahmin community has suffered the most under the current state administration and that the government has failed to treat all sections of society equally.
Ikra Hasan, another SP MP, accused the government of mismanaging the Lok Sabha, noting that the monsoon session has functioned properly for only one day. She reminded the ruling party of its responsibility to ensure smooth parliamentary proceedings and to allow the opposition to debate issues such as alleged police brutality.
Hasan explained the broad scope of PDA, stating it includes not only backward classes, Dalits and minorities but also women, tribals, disenfranchised upper‑caste groups and anyone who feels marginalized by the government’s ideology.
Akshay Yadav condemned the current proposal on women’s reservation, labeling the BJP as the biggest opponent of women’s rights, and referenced police action against female student protesters as evidence of the government’s indifference to women’s safety.
Ramji Lal Suman finished the protest by calling the revocation of the Congress program in Prayagraj an act of authoritarianism, accusing the government of suppressing any dissent against it.