Lucknow, September 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Muslim clerics have questioned the credibility of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s promises to address the salary issues of madrasa teachers, with two prominent religious leaders demanding greater political representation for Muslims ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Maulana Sajid Rashidi, president of the All India Imam Association, accused Akhilesh Yadav of using madrasa-related issues for political purposes while allegedly sidelining Muslims within the party.
Speaking to IANS, Rashidi alleged that Muslims were being pushed out of gatherings, denied their due representation and subjected to what he described as disrespectful treatment. He also accused the SP leadership of undermining Muslim religious scholars.
” A khilesh Yadav wants to do politics in the name of madrasas. Do not do politics in the name of madrasas. A slogan and a point have been put before you that this time, make a Muslim the Chief Minister. Name a Muslim for the post of Chief Minister. Then we will understand that you are a well-wisher of Muslims,” Rashidi said.
He further alleged that the party had failed to provide Muslims with their rightful share in political representation and maintained that promises concerning madrasa teachers would carry greater credibility if the SP declared a Muslim as its Chief Ministerial candidate.
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, also criticised the SP chief, claiming that the Muslim community was increasingly dissatisfied with the party.
Speaking to IANS, Razvi said Akhilesh Yadav was under the impression that Muslims continued to support the SP and that the party would return to power in 2027.
“Akhilesh Yadav is living in an illusion that all the Muslims support him and that the SP will form a government in the state in 2027. However, the ground reality is that the Muslim community is very frustrated with the SP,” Razvi said.
The criticism follows a series of announcements made by Akhilesh Yadav on Monday as part of the SP’s preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The SP chief promised to address the long-pending salary issues of teachers working in modern madrasas if his party returned to power. He also pledged to improve the status of Shiksha Mitras by extending facilities available to regular teachers and resolve problems faced by Sanskrit schools.
Yadav also announced plans to work towards implementing the Old Pension Scheme for government employees, along with measures to address other education-related concerns.
The clerics’ remarks come as the Samajwadi Party intensifies its political outreach ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with madrasa education, teachers’ welfare and Muslim representation emerging as issues in the ongoing political discourse.
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