A day after the questions raised by the State Governor Ram Naik over the competence and parliamentary conduct of the senior minister Azam Khan, Samajwadi party has hit out at the governor. SP has dismissed the demand of the governor for the removal of Azam Khan from the cabinet. The Governor had said that Azam Khan does not deserve to be a minister for his remark on the floor of the assembly against the Raj Bhawan
SP also alleged that the communal forces, who flourish through divisive politics were out to malign the image of Azam Khan and the people of the state would never accept the falsehood. “Its uncalled for to raise questions on the talent and competence of Azam Khan, whose public life had been an open book and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav trusts him. It appears that that character assassination has become the prime object to attack a political party with ideologies and ethics have lost relevance’’, said SP spokesperson and UP minister Rajendra Choudhury in a statement here on Saturday.
SP spokesman in a veiled answer to Raj Bhawan demand for the removal of Azam Khan said `` that there is no question of removing Azam Khan as Parliamentary Affairs minister and the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav have full faith in him and his ability. The way Azam Khan organised the 2013 Kumbh Mela in Allahabad had won global appreciation’’.
“Azam Khan is an accomplished and a seasoned parliamentarian, who is known for his skills in countering the onslaught of the opposition in the assembly and even the opposition leaders are enamoured of his parliamentary skills’’, said Rajendra Chowdhary adding `` Azam Khan is a strong advocate of secularism and his commitment in the leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav is well known’’.
The SP also hit out at BJP saying that those people are behind this conspiracy against Azam Khan, who has flourished through divisive politics spreading communal hatred in the society for their narrow political ends.
SP leader said earlier the mining minister Gyatri Prajapati was targeted and concerted campaign was launched to malign him. He said now it’s the turn of Azam Khan and he is being targeted. He said Azam Khan is active in public life for several decades and right from his days in student’s politics he has struggled in life for values and probity in public life.
The state Governor Ram Naik on Friday had written to the state assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey saying that Azam does not deserve to be a parliamentary affairs minister for making derogatory remarks against the Raj Bhawan on the floor of the assembly on March 8. Azam Khan had criticised the questioned the integrity of the Governor for not giving his assent to the bill passed by the state assembly curtailing the financial powers of the Mayors. The Speaker, Azam Khan along with other 15 other MlAs are on a 17 days study tour to Australia, New Zealand and Japan at present. They are likely to return to state capital in mid April