Akhilesh Yadav: BJP trying to malign Azam Khan’s image

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for trying to malign the image of its senior party leaders. The statement was issued by Yadav after Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh filed a complaint against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan for allegedly threatening his family members. Yadav was of the opinion that BJP is behind this.

The former chief minister also stated that Khan’s security is under radar and he should be provided with it. Yadav also demanded that the FIR against Khan be immediately expunged.

The statement issued reads, as quoted by Indian Express, “The BJP is frustrated by the secular image of Azam Khan and his achievements like the skilled management of the Kumbh Mela in the past and establishing Jauhar University. That is why they are trying to defame and politically harass him…The management was applauded even abroad…what could be a better example of secularism.”

Addressing a press conference, SP’s national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said, “In today’s time, there can be a fake encounter anywhere in the state. Fake FIRs are also a possibility…The government is working with a mentality of revenge and the FIR against Azam Khan is under BJP’s agenda. This is an attempt to harass Khan.”

Based on Amar Singh’s complaint against Khan, an FIR was registered in Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar police station under sections IPC 153 A (promoting enmity), 153 B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religions) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

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