The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly descended into chaos on Tuesday as Samajwadi Party (SP) members stormed the Well of the House, raising slogans against the BJP-led state government over the vandalism of a 300-year-old mausoleum in Fatehpur by right-wing groups. The protest, led by Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey, highlighted alleged administrative lapses and accused the government of fostering communal discord.

The unrest followed an incident on Monday night, August 11, when members of Hindu outfits, including Bajrang Dal, stormed the Abu Nagar mausoleum in Fatehpur, damaging graves and claiming it as a temple site where they demanded the right to pray. The act, seen as part of a broader pattern of targeting Muslim religious sites, sparked outrage among opposition parties. Police responded by filing an FIR against 10 named and approximately 150 unidentified individuals at Fatehpur police station, with security tightened through drone surveillance and additional forces from neighboring districts.

Pandey, addressing the Assembly after Question Hour, criticized the government for failing to deploy adequate security despite prior warnings of potential unrest. He noted that a leader from a right-wing group had claimed the mausoleum as Hindu property seven days earlier, yet the administration’s response was inadequate, allowing the mob to breach barricades. “The BJP government is deliberately disturbing communal harmony by targeting madrassas and mausoleums to further its divisive politics,” Pandey alleged, demanding clarity on the government’s stance.

Also Read: Noida Shocker: SP Workers Slap Maulana Over Dimple Yadav Remark

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna countered, asserting that the government had no role in the incident and vowed that those taking the law into their hands would face punishment. He confirmed the FIR but faced further ire from SP members, who questioned why the BJP’s Fatehpur unit chief was not named in it. This prompted SP MLAs, including Sangram Yadav and Nafees Ahmed, to enter the Well, chanting anti-government slogans in front of Speaker Satish Mahana’s chair.

Speaker Mahana, attempting to restore order, noted that the government had responded to the opposition’s query but accused the SP of disrupting proceedings to avoid discussing public issues. “The government is ready to answer, but if the opposition wants to shut down the House, I am prepared for that too,” he said, highlighting the session’s importance as the first since SP’s strong showing in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it won 37 of 80 seats.

The protest underscores growing tensions over communal issues in Uttar Pradesh, with SP leveraging the incident to challenge the BJP’s governance. As investigations continue, with police using videography to identify culprits, the incident has reignited debates over religious site disputes and administrative accountability.

Also Read: SP MP Slams Delay in Operation Sindoor, Demands ‘Tandoor’