Uproar Continues in UP Legislature as Budget Session Enters Fourth Day

In the Legislative Council, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak clashed with SP MLC Ashutosh Sinha during a discussion on a medical college in Kannauj. Sinha alleged that a hospital building constructed in 2016 had not been made operational, questioning the state government’s handling of the project.

Pathak responded forcefully, stating that constructing a building did not amount to running a hospital. He accused the previous SP-led government of financial irregularities and awarding contracts to relatives. “Public money was misused, and structures were built without ensuring functionality,” he said, asserting that the present government was focused on operational efficiency.

The Assembly witnessed similar scenes during Question Hour. Minister Nand Gopal Nandi, replying to a query from SP MLA Ragini Sonkar, began by reading from the question itself, prompting Speaker Satish Mahana to intervene. As Nandi continued, remarks attributed to him drew objections from Sonkar, escalating tensions. The Speaker repeatedly asked the minister to restrict his response to the specific query. Amid mounting disorder, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna stepped in to address the matter.

Another flashpoint arose when Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh responded to SP MLA RK Verma on agricultural schemes. Singh maintained that development initiatives had reached every constituency and challenged opposition members to verify official records. His remarks triggered sloganeering from SP legislators, further stalling proceedings.

Sports funding also became a subject of contention. SP MLA Engineer Sachin Yadav questioned the utilisation of allocated funds, claiming that of the ₹980 crore proposed for 2025–26, only ₹185 crore had been spent. He cited zero allocations for projects including Fatehpur Sports College, a sports ground in Kannauj, hostels at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium, Saifai Stadium and a swimming pool in Prayagraj. Yadav also highlighted a shortage of permanent trainers in sports colleges and compared Uttar Pradesh’s performance unfavourably with Haryana in the Khelo India Youth Games.

Debate over law and order further intensified proceedings. SP MLC Mukul Yadav raised concerns about religious harmony, while BJP leader Swatantra Dev Singh countered by claiming a decline in major crimes and the absence of large-scale riots since 2017. An SP member responded that political shifts explained the decline, prompting renewed uproar and a subsequent walkout by SP legislators.

The session is expected to continue amid heightened political sparring as budget discussions proceed.