Lucknow — Samajwadi Party National President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav strongly criticized the BJP government for failing to ensure the safety, dignity, and welfare of women in the state. Addressing a meeting of national and state office bearers of the Samajwadi Mahila Sabha at the party headquarters in Lucknow’s Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Auditorium, Yadav said that women — who constitute half the population — are today feeling “helpless and hopeless” under BJP rule.
Yadav alleged that the BJP regime has not only dismantled welfare schemes introduced by the former Samajwadi government but has also failed to check rising crimes against women and girls. “Under this government, women are the most unsafe and insulted section of society. Even children are not spared. The schemes initiated for women’s welfare during the Samajwadi regime have either been scrapped or neglected. Women are facing oppression and no one is there to hear their voice,” he said.
The meeting was also graced by Mainpuri MP and senior SP leader Dimple Yadav, who was present as a special guest.
Highlighting his party’s longstanding commitment to women’s empowerment, Yadav said the Samajwadi Party has always given women due respect in the organization, a value instilled by party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. “Netaji believed that the progress of women leads to the progress of society and the nation,” Yadav noted.
He announced that once the Samajwadi Party returns to power, it will launch the “Stree Samman Samriddhi Yojana”, under which women across the state will receive a monthly stipend of ₹3,000. He also promised the revival of earlier schemes like the Kanya Vidya Dhan, which had played a pivotal role in promoting girls’ education, and reminded the audience that over 20 lakh students were provided laptops under the previous SP government.
Akhilesh Yadav further stated that the Samajwadi Pension Yojana, which benefitted around 50 lakh women including widows and the economically weaker sections, will also be brought back. Women were given financial relief in property registration through a 1% discount in stamp duty. “We had introduced reservation for women in panchayat elections and started the 1090 Women Power Line to ensure women’s safety,” he said. The 102 Ambulance Service, launched for transporting pregnant women and newborns to and from hospitals, was also a milestone of the SP government, he added.
Yadav accused the BJP government of presiding over a significant rise in crimes against women and promised that upon forming the next government, the SP would recruit more women in the police force to ensure better safety and representation.
He reiterated that the Samajwadi Party continues to follow the ideals of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, especially his principle of “special opportunity” for marginalized groups. “From panchayats to party posts, we have ensured women’s representation. In contrast, the BJP has betrayed ASHA workers, anganwadi staff, mid-day meal cooks, and countless other women working at the grassroots,” he said.
Calling on the people of Uttar Pradesh to unite for change, Yadav said the 2027 assembly elections will be an opportunity to defeat the BJP and restore governance with integrity. “The people must resolve to remove the BJP from power and bring back a government that stands for social justice, women’s dignity, and development,” he concluded.
The meeting witnessed the presence of several senior party leaders including National Vice President Kiranmoy Nanda, former Cabinet Minister Rajendra Chaudhary, State President Shyam Lal Pal, former MP Kanaklata Singh, former MLCs Dr. Madhu Gupta and Leelavati Kushwaha, and National President of the Samajwadi Mahila Sabha Juhi Singh along with State President Reebu Srivastava. Their attendance underscored the party’s united front and commitment toward empowering women across all levels of society.
