Lucknow: Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday released a party audit alleging that at least 151 statues of Dr B.R. Ambedkar were vandalised across 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh during the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party’s nearly nine-and-a-half-year tenure in the state.
Audit report, figures and claims
Speaking at the party office in Lucknow while launching the document described as the "Samajwadi audit report", Mr Yadav said the incidents formed part of a broader pattern of humiliation directed at marginalised communities and followers of Ambedkarite thought. He argued the attacks symbolised an assault on democratic values.
"An attack on Babasaheb Ambedkar is an attack on the soul of India and a slap on democratic values," Mr Yadav said while releasing the audit report.
The audit, according to the party, chronicles incidents beginning with a reported case dated March 24, 2017 in Gautam Buddha Nagar and concluding with an entry dated September 19, 2026 in Unnao.
The document, as summarised by the SP, includes the following data points:
- Total incidents recorded: 151 statues damaged or vandalised
- Districts affected: 72 across Uttar Pradesh
- Arrests made: in 14 incidents
- Cases against unknown persons: 45
- Named accused: 18 across the incidents
- Incidents with no action details: 84
District distribution (selected)
| District | Incidents (as per audit) |
|---|---|
| Ballia | 9 |
| Azamgarh | 6 |
| Mathura | 5 |
| Muzaffarnagar | 5 |
| Saharanpur | 5 |
Mr Yadav told reporters the audit was part of a larger campaign to highlight what the party terms a sustained pattern of disrespect toward marginalised social groups. He also asserted the incidents reflected frustration among those he described as the ruling party's "feudal followers" at not being able to amend the Constitution.
Law-and-order response and gaps flagged
The SP chief said that arrests had been made in only 14 of the recorded incidents. In 45 cases, he said, complaints had been registered naming unknown persons, while 18 people had been specifically named as accused. For 84 incidents, the party said there was no public record of any action taken by authorities.
These claims, as set out by the party, point to what it described as inadequate police response and accountability. The audit does not, however, provide details on the outcomes of the cases where arrests were made, such as prosecutions, charge-sheets or convictions.
Political context and possible implications
The allegations come in a politically charged atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP has governed since 2017 under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The SP, a principal opposition party in the state, framed the audit release as part of its push to mobilise support among communities that identify with Ambedkar's legacy.
Observers note that claims about attacks on symbols associated with marginalized groups gain traction in electoral politics because they touch on issues of dignity, social justice and law-and-order — all potent themes in the state's public discourse. The SP's publication of a district-level tally may be intended to pressure authorities to act and to consolidate political support.
As of Sunday, there was no immediate official response from the Uttar Pradesh government or state police to the figures released in the audit. The party did not provide copies of police FIRs or court filings in every cited incident within the material released at the press event.
What the audit leaves open
While the SP's document supplies a chronology and a set of tallies, it does not, according to the party's own presentation, contain case outcomes or a full evidentiary record for each entry. The party claimed the audit was part of an "outcry for social justice" and said it would contribute to broader efforts aimed at challenging what it described as systemic humiliation of oppressed groups.
For citizens and authorities alike, the audit raises immediate questions about investigation, prosecution and the protection of public memorials. The state police and administration would be the agencies responsible for responding to the specific incidents and for producing a formal accounting of actions taken.
Reporting from Lucknow.
