Though the party had persistently pressed for lifting the ban, today it termed the government’s decision a ‘drama’ and cautioned people that Chief Minister Mayawati might reimpose the ban after some time.

“The decision has nothing to do with students’ interest,” said senior SP leader Ahmad Hasan,addressing the media soon after the announcement.

“In order to dilute our ongoing campaign for restoring students’ union politics in universities and colleges, the government has removed the ban,” he added.

The members of the Samajwadi Chatra Sabha, the party’s youth wing, said if the state government is serious on restoring students’ politics in the state, it should first withdraw the “fake cases” lodged against various student leaders.

“In our recent campaign against the ban, the state government had put several of our colleagues behind the bars on pretext of indulging in violence,” said Sunil Singh ‘Sajan’, state president of Samajwadi Chatra Sabha, who was also present at the press conference.

“The Samajwadi Party will continue its campaign against the BSP, till the fake cases against students’ leaders are not withdrawn,” he added. He further said that his party and students have lost trust in the Mayawati government.

The Samajwadi Party also reiterated its demand for punitive action against those police officers who allegedly repressed students’ agitation against the ban on union poll.

Referring to the police firing incident in Etawah that killed one student, Hasan said: “The SSP of Etawah should have been terminated at once but the government is giving him patronage.”

The students at the Lucknow University, however, hailed the government’s decision.