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News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
‘Walls Echo With Netaji's Voice': Three Decades On, SP Set To Lose ‘Command Centre' Kothi No. 4
Last Updated: The district administration has cancelled the allotment of the bungalow, originally made in 1994 in the name of Mulayam Singh Yadav, citing violations of rules and government needs The iconic Kothi No. 4 in Moradabad's Civil Lines, which for over three decades served as the Samajwadi Party's nerve centre in western Uttar Pradesh, will no longer be a part of the party's heritage. The district administration has cancelled the allotment of the bungalow, originally made in 1994 in the name of SP founder and former chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, citing violations of rules and present government needs. District magistrate Anuj Singh confirmed that the property must be vacated within 30 days. 'Municipal bungalows can only be leased for a maximum of 15 years. This property has remained with the SP for over 31 years. With the growing demand for government offices and residences, we had no option but to reclaim it," Singh said. A Symbol of SP's Political Nerve Centre Situated opposite the Police Training College in Moradabad's most prestigious VIP enclave, Kothi No. 4 is spread across 953.71 square meters, with four rooms, a sprawling lawn, and ample parking. Its boundary wall, painted green, has long been a marker for SP supporters. It was inaugurated by Mulayam Singh Yadav on July 26, 1994, days after being allotted to him as SP's national president at a token rent of Rs 250 per month. A plaque at the entrance still bears his name, along with that of then urban development minister Ramashankar Kaushik and local SP leaders. For SP, the bungalow was not just a headquarters but a cradle of its western UP expansion. Here, strategies were forged, movements were launched, and countless cadres cut their teeth in politics. Epicentre of Historic Movements A senior Samajwadi Party leader from Moradabad, recalling the bungalow's past, said: 'This Kothi was more than an office—it was our command centre. During the Mandal agitation, the Rampur‑Tiraha incident, and later the Kisan‑Jawan Sangharsh Day protests, this place remained the main meeting point where strategies were drawn, workers assembled, and Mulayam Singh's vision was communicated. To take it away now is a calculated move by the Yogi government to weaken our morale and erase our roots from western UP." Mandal Commission & OBC Assertion (1994) The senior SP leader said in March 1994, Mulayam Singh's government implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations, granting 27 per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions to OBCs. While the decision sparked sharp protests in Uttarakhand and parts of western UP with a smaller OBC base, it cemented Mulayam's image as the protector of backward classes. Kothi No. 4 became the hub of mobilisation in Moradabad, with district leaders and students gathering daily to strategise, coordinate with state leadership, and counter anti‑reservation campaigns. Rampur‑Tiraha Firing (October 1994) Just months later, on 1–2 October 1994, police firing on activists demanding a separate Uttarakhand state at Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar rocked the region. Six people were killed, with disturbing allegations of sexual violence. The fallout shook the Mulayam government. SP leaders recall that Kothi No. 4 turned into a crisis centre—'We held emergency meetings here, issued statements, and managed the anger of supporters who were deeply shaken," said a veteran worker. Kisan‑Jawan Sangharsh Day Protests (2001) In 2001, Mulayam led state-wide protests against Rajnath Singh's BJP government under the banner of Kisan‑Jawan Sangharsh Day, highlighting the hardships of farmers and the neglect of security personnel. Moradabad was one of the strongest centres of the agitation, with businesses shut and SP cadres clashing with police. At the heart of the mobilisation was Kothi No. 4, where directives from Mulayam were relayed and arrested workers' families found support, SP leaders told News 18. A Blow to Party Cadre Local Samajwadi Party leaders and workers say the move has come as a jolt, particularly at a time when the party is preparing for crucial political battles in the state. SP's district president Jaiveer Yadav said, 'This Kothi is not just a building, it is an emotional legacy tied to Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav). From here, the party expanded in western Uttar Pradesh. We have informed national president Akhilesh Yadav, and he has asked us to pursue a legal fight against the administration's decision." Another senior SP activist in Moradabad, requesting not to be named, termed the decision a calculated move by the Yogi Adityanath government. 'This is not merely about rules. The BJP knows the symbolic importance of this Kothi for Samajwadis in western UP. By taking it away, they want to send a message and weaken the morale of party workers. It is a deliberate attempt to erase our presence from a place that has seen every major movement of the SP in this region." Administration Cites Rule Violation However, the district administration has cited three key reasons for the cancellation, stating that the allotment was in the name of Mulayam Singh Yadav, who passed away on October 10, 2022, and no transfer request was made thereafter. Secondly, the property lies on Nazul land, officially recorded as government property under Moradabad Municipal Corporation, which needs it for officers' residences and official projects. Thirdly, the rent has not been regularly deposited in recent years. top videos View all However, the uncertainty has already stirred unease among local cadres. The loss of Kothi No. 4 means SP will now have to find a new district office — a challenge both logistically and symbolically. For residents of Moradabad, especially older SP workers, the bungalow remains a part of living political history. 'From rallies to late-night meetings, this place has seen everything. Its walls echo with the voice of Netaji," said 68-year-old supporter Ram Kishore, recalling the first time he saw Mulayam inaugurate the office in 1994. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Akhilesh Yadav Mandal commission moradabad mulayam singh yadav samajwadi party Uttarakhand view comments Location : Moradabad, India, India First Published: August 04, 2025, 15:30 IST News politics 'Walls Echo With Netaji's Voice': Three Decades On, SP Set To Lose 'Command Centre' Kothi No. 4 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. 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Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP closing schools, opening liquor shops, says Akhilesh
Varanasi: president on Thursday said the UP govt was destroying the future of children in the state by shutting thousands of primary schools. "It is shocking how thousands of schools are being shut by govt but there is no constraint on opening of new liquor shops all over the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The two developments showcase BJP's priorities," he said while inaugurating the party's office-cum-residence in Azamgarh. He said the BJP was out to humiliate and disrespect the PDA community. SP has named the new office building as PDA Bhawan. "This PDA is the same community that Babasaheb (AMbedkar) fought for and is often referred to as Bahujan Samaj. This PDA also stands for the 'peedit' (aggrieved), 'dukhi' (victimised) and apmaanit' (humiliated). This is our broader social alliance for which we ensure complete social justice," Akhilesh said. In the political circles, Akhilesh inaugurating the new office building was seen as SP blowing the bugle for the 2027 UP polls, as the SP chief not only set the target for cadre to ensure PDA's victory on all seats from Ghaziabad to Sonbhadra, but went on to announce 300 units free electricity to every family, iPads and Samajwadi pension of Rs 3,000 for women if the party forms next govt in UP. He also assured termination of Central govt's Agniveer scheme and strengthening of border security. He outlined how Azamgarh had been a home for SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and sitting MP Dharmendra Yadav and how people of the district and the region have backed the SP in every parliamentary and assembly elections. Akhilesh recalled how Mulayam Singh had joined hands with BSP founder Kashi Ram when he spotted a supporter carrying a photograph of the two leaders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "That photo has Netaji (Mulayam) and Kanshi Ram together. Think how significant that time was — when two ideologies stood side by side," he said recalling the coming together of Kanshi Ram and Mulayam Singh in the early 1990s to take on the BJP. While the event was held peacefully, some Brahmin families in the city installed black flags outside their houses on the call of a Brahmin organisation and Vishwa Hindu Mahasabha to protest against Akhilesh voicing his support to Yadav katha vachaks in Etawah who were allegedly humiliated by some upper caste members for reciting katha – a specialisation till now associated exclusively to the Brahmin community.
