Tue Sep 23 02:10:34 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The Uttar Pradesh government has issued a directive banning caste-based political rallies, signs, and the mention of caste in police records. Opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party and Congress, criticize the directive as being superficial and accuse the government of trying to suppress the political awareness of marginalized communities. They question the government’s commitment to addressing the deeply ingrained caste discrimination that persists in society and argue that the ban will only embolden forces of injustice. The directive was issued following an order from the Allahabad High Court.
**News Article:**
**UP Government’s Caste Rally Ban Draws Fire from Opposition**
**Lucknow – September 23, 2025** – A new directive from the Uttar Pradesh government banning caste-based political rallies, signage, and references to caste in police records has sparked outrage from opposition parties, who call the move a superficial attempt to mask systemic discrimination.
The directive, issued on Sunday, September 21, by officiating Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar, aims to prohibit any form of caste-based mobilization deemed detrimental to public order. This includes rallies, signboards, and social media posts in public places. The order also mandates the removal of caste references from police records like FIRs and arrest memos.
Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav questioned the government’s commitment to addressing the root causes of caste discrimination. “What will be done to remove the caste discrimination that has been ingrained in our minds for 5,000 years?” Yadav asked, posing a series of questions challenging the directive’s effectiveness in eradicating deeply ingrained societal biases.
SP spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati accused the government of being afraid of the growing political awareness among the Gurjar community, particularly in light of a planned Gurjar rally. He pointed out the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) own history of organizing caste-based events prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress party echoed the criticism, labeling the decision “dangerous” and an attempt to silence voices from Dalit, backward, marginalized, and other subaltern communities. Senior Congress leader Anil Yadav argued that the ban will only embolden those who perpetuate injustice based on caste identity.
“The point is that injustice, unfairness, bias, and prejudice based on caste ended in Uttar Pradesh; the clear answer is no,” said Anil Yadav. “Those in power discriminate against downtrodden, Dalits, backwards and minorities based on identity through multiple ways, from fake encounters to bias in appointment.”
The Uttar Pradesh government has not yet responded to the specific criticisms leveled by the opposition parties. The directive follows an order from the Allahabad High Court.
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