Lucknow, Aug 19 (PTI) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday questioned the Enforcement Directorate’s searches in the premises linked to jailed party leader Azam Khan, and demanded that the agency conduct raids in a series of alleged corruption cases involving the BJP government and its functionaries.
Yadav said the ED should raid those involved in the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, illegal stocking and supply of regulated Codeine-based syrups, as well as those responsible for the “broken” expressways made by spending crores of rupees.
However, Uttar Pradesh Minority Welfare Minister Danish Azad Ansari defended the ED action, alleging that “layers” of corruption behind the establishment of Azam Khan’s Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University were being exposed.
State Congress president Ajay Rai accused the government of harassing the senior Samajwadi Party leader.
Yadav, in an X post, alleged that the ED was targeting people who built universities while sparing those involved in corruption cases. He demanded raids against “Ram temple thieves”, “power-linked criminals” and those involved in the “codeine scandal”.
He also sought ED investigation into several infrastructure projects, describing the Bundelkhand Expressway as “dilapidated”, the Purvanchal Expressway as “shaking”, the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway as “pothole-ridden” and the Green Corridor as “cracked”.
His list included “broken roads”, “collapsing bridges”, “collapsing water tanks”, “leaking roofs” and a “station wall” allegedly constructed during the BJP government’s tenure.
Yadav further demanded action against “corrupt police officers backed by the ruling government, contractors behind irregularities during the Maha Kumbh, and BJP-linked people allegedly involved in a multi-trillion-rupee game in the name of Smart Cities”.
He also accused BJP public representatives of illegal construction on unapproved land, and officials of allegedly distributing Rs 7,000 crore among themselves after covering up misconduct and abusive remarks.
The ED on Wednesday searched around 10 premises linked to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and University in Rampur and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi’s Jamia Nagar as part of a money laundering investigation.
ED officials have alleged diversion of government contract funds through private contractors and their subsequent utilisation, including in creating assets of the trust and university.
Defending the searches, Minority Welfare Minister Ansari said the investigation agency was only doing its job and action would follow if wrongdoing was established.
“New stories of corruption behind the establishment of Jauhar University are now being uncovered,” Ansari said in Ballia, alleging that public money was misused and land belonging to poor people and the government was illegally occupied to set up the university.
“When you sow a babul tree, you cannot expect sweet fruits,” he said.
Ansari also accused Samajwadi Party leaders of illegally occupying Waqf properties, saying the government would ensure that such properties were not misused.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai, speaking at a programme in Ballia, alleged that the government was targeting Khan.
“Azam Khan is being harassed by the government,” he said.
Samajwadi Party national spokesperson Sumaiya Rana, who reached Jauhar University during the searches but was not allowed inside, termed the action “highly shameful” and alleged that the government was using the ED to put pressure on Khan and the university.
She alleged that students were being unnecessarily pressured by the ED and police.
Former Samajwadi Party candidate Asim Raja alleged that the university had been surrounded by the ED, and students were being subjected to pressure to create an atmosphere of fear to discourage admissions.
Bar Association president and senior Samajwadi Party leader Satnam Singh Mattu also questioned the action, alleging that some people who entered the university claimed to be ED officials but did not identify themselves.
Students who entered the premises were asked for their mobile numbers, he said, terming the action illegal.
The university was recently embroiled in another dispute after the Rampur Development Authority directed it to demolish 38 of its 40 buildings, alleging construction without approved building plans. The proposed demolition was subsequently stayed by the divisional commissioner, who directed that no administrative action be taken until further orders.
The Samajwadi Party and other opposition parties have criticised the ED action, alleging political vendetta. PTI COR KIS RUK RUK
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