Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former minister Azam Khan has sharply criticized the INDI alliance, accusing it of ignoring the concerns of Muslims. He urged the alliance to raise the issue of crime and alleged destruction in Rampur in Parliament, just as it did with Sambhal.
"Sambhal was targeted only after the experiment in Rampur succeeded," Khan claimed. "The INDI alliance remained silent on this. If this continues, we will be compelled to reconsider the future of Muslims," he warned.
Azam Khan, currently lodged in Sitapur Jail, expressed his concerns through a letter handed to Rampur SP district president Ajay Sagar, who visited him. Sagar later released the contents of the letter to the public.
Khan accused the INDI alliance of working to eliminate Muslim leadership. "The alliance stood as a silent spectator while Rampur was destroyed. It must clarify its stance or we will be forced to reconsider our future," he wrote.
He further alleged that Muslims are being politically marginalized. "The Muslim vote has become meaningless. Their right to vote is being reduced to a tool for genocide. If this continues, we will have to decide whether retaining the right to vote is even worth it."
Khan criticized attempts to destroy religious sites by declaring them controversial. "Other communities cannot be wiped out under the guise of removing disputed places of worship. People conspire and feign sympathy," he said.
Azam Khan’s political influence in Uttar Pradesh has been significant. He was elected as an MLA 10 times and served as an MP once from Rampur. His wife, Tanzeen Fatima, also became an MLA, while his son, Abdullah Azam, was elected twice.
During the SP government, Khan wielded immense influence, rivaling even that of a Chief Minister. The state aircraft was often used to transport him to Rampur, which many considered a secondary seat of power.
However, his political dominance began to decline after 2017. His troubles escalated in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when he made a controversial remark targeting bureaucrats at a rally in Rampur. "Don’t fear these collectors and officers; they are just salaried employees. If Allah wills, I will make them clean my shoes after the elections," he reportedly said.
The remark triggered a wave of legal troubles. Investigations linked to land acquisition for Jauhar University led to over 100 cases being filed against Khan and his family. He was declared a land mafia, and both he and his wife were imprisoned.
The legal onslaught began when Anjaneya Kumar was the district magistrate in Rampur. Following complaints from farmers about alleged illegal land acquisitions for Jauhar University, the administration initiated inquiries that snowballed into multiple cases. Khan and his family have since faced prolonged legal battles and jail terms.
