The Hindu : National : All set for Azam Khan's return to Samajwadi Party

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 22, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

All set for Azam Khan's return to Samajwadi Party

Atiq Khan

Azam Khan

LUCKNOW: It is now certain that the expelled leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister, Mohammad Azam Khan, will return to the Samajwadi Party following Sunday's meeting in New Delhi between SP president Mulayam Singh and the four-member Mushawrat Council sub-committee. The modalities of his return would be finalised in Lucknow on November 27.

His return would be unconditional. The Rampur MLA did not display any interest in becoming Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, but wanted an honourable return and a “commitment” from Mr. Singh on the welfare of Muslims.

The meeting was held in the backdrop of the Mushawarat Council approving Mr. Khan's return to the party.

“I don't want an important position, or the post of Leader of Opposition, as is being widely speculated in the media,” Mr. Khan told TheHindu on the phone.

Mr. Khan said that Sunday's meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere. “A charter of demands related to the betterment and welfare of the Muslim community was presented by the council members to the SP president”, he added.

Included in the charter of demands were: initiating steps for the betterment of the Muslim society in the light of the Sachar Committee recommendations and taking back the properties belonging to Waqf from squatters and illegal occupants.

It was widely speculated that Mr. Khan's return would coincide with Mr. Singh's 72nd birthday on Monday, but Mr. Khan denied this possibility. He conveyed his good wishes to Mr. Singh through the Mushawarat council.

Mr. Khan's expected return would end his political wilderness since his expulsion before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Mr. Mulayam Singh's closeness to the former SP general secretary, Amar Singh, and the former Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Kalyan Singh, was opposed by Mr. Khan.

He was particularly upset at Mr. Mulayam Singh allying with Mr. Kalyan Singh, who was Chief Minister during the Babri Masjid demolition on December 6, 1992.

Mr. Khan was subsequently expelled from the SP and his ouster proved detrimental to the party's cause, as Muslims voters deserted it.

Corrections and Clarifications

The news report, "All set for Azam Khan's return to Samajwadi Party" (November 22, 2010), wrongly said Azam Khan was expelled from the Samajwadi Party before the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Khan was expelled from the party after the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail