Samajwadi Party MLA Ragini Sonkar Criticizes Government over Law and Order, Women’s Safety

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party MLA Ragini Sonkar shared her party’s experiences and criticisms of the government after the assembly session was adjourned indefinitely. She highlighted the achievements of the previous Samajwadi Party government under National President Akhilesh Yadav and contrasted them with the current administration’s approach.

Sonkar stated, “Under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership, his vision was visible on the ground—whether we talk about Ekana Stadium, metros, police headquarters where the current CM sits, or expressways, all of these were part of our government’s vision. Ours was perhaps the first full-term government to deliver concrete results during its tenure.”

She further questioned the present government’s claims regarding increased numbers of medical colleges in the state. “You claim to have raised the number of medical colleges, but all you did was rename district hospitals. Even simple surgeries aren’t conducted there and basic facilities like oxygen masks are missing for emergency patients.”

When asked about Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s statement—“Where there’s a Samajwadi, daughters feel unsafe”—Sonkar countered, “The public now understands the truth. You had promised safety and earned the people’s trust on law and order, but NCRB data—your own double-engine government’s data—tells a different story.”

She cited the recent Balrampur incident, which she called highly condemnable, alleging there was government and police inaction as a girl fled for her life only one kilometer from the SP and DM residence. “She could neither scream nor cry for help while motorcycle-borne miscreants chased her. And yet, you claim that daughters are safe?”

When asked why these issues were not raised more vocally in the assembly, Sonkar replied, “Perhaps you missed it, but our Leader of Opposition raised the Balrampur incident during the session. The government, however, doesn’t want to hear criticism—only to glorify itself, often with falsehoods.”

Addressing allegations from the BJP that women do not have respect or a voice within the Samajwadi Party—especially following recent disputes involving party MLA Pooja Pal—Sonkar clarified, “Thank you for reminding me. Maybe I was unaware, just as the public is upset and angered because at the time when the party needed her vote in the Rajya Sabha, she betrayed us. Later, she praised CM Yogi Adityanath, which led to party dissatisfaction. These are fabricated matters—there’s no question of gender here. Right is right, wrong is wrong.”

Ragini Sonkar concluded the interview stating that parties take actions according to their rules, and that recent controversies involving women legislators are not about women’s freedom but about party discipline.

Reporting from Lucknow, with video journalist Mehndi Hasan, this is Sandeep Kher for Bharat Samachar.