‘Take a lenient view of mistakes committed during SP regime’
Describing Mulayam Singh Yadav as a “close friend” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam (AITUI), an organisation of Barelvi-Sunni Muslims, has sought the intervention of Samajwadi Party founder for the release of SP MLA from Rampur, Mohammad Azam Khan.
Azam Khan is in jail for the last 26 months and is lodged in Sitapur district jail.
The AITUI has also sent a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, urging him to ensure better facilities for SP leader Azam Khan in jail. The letter, signed by AITUI general secretary Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, says that “Yogi Adityanath being a saint himself, should take a lenient view of the mistakes committed during the SP regime and ensure early release of Azam Khan “.
Maulana Razvi further said that “if Yogi Adityanath helps in the release of Azam Khan, Muslims across the country would perceive this as a positive step and there would be a visible change in their attitude towards the state government”.
In a separate letter to SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Muslim cleric expressed dismay at the fact that he (Mulayam) had not uttered a word in support of Azam Khan, who happens to be the founder member of the Samajwadi Party.
“We have seen Azam Khan begging for votes for your party and he even played a key role in making Akhilesh Yadav the chief minister of UP. It is a matter of regret that during this crisis, the SP has almost abandoned him," the letter said.
Maulana Razvi further said, “Mulayam is known for his good relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but it is a matter of regret that he has not done anything to secure the release of his loyal friend from jail.”
“Through this letter I want to convey to you the deep anguish and anxiety among the Muslims over the long detention of Azam Khan. In 2019, you had blessed a second term as prime minister for Narendra Modi and he was re-elected as prime minister, but you neither ever met the prime minister on the issue of Azam Khan nor you ever raised this issue in Parliament,” Maulana Razvi said.
The Maulana added, “Speak to the prime minister and, if needed, raise the issue in Parliament, otherwise, we will be forced to believe that you have no interest in issues related to Muslims.”
This is the first time that any Muslim organisation has written to Yogi Adityanath and Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of release of Azam Khan. The letter is expected to increase troubles for SP which is already facing flak from its own Muslim leaders on the issue.