From Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: The fight is on between cabinet minister Mohd Azam Khan and Imam Syed Ahmad Bhukari of Delhi Jama Masjid to emerge as Muslim face of Samajwadi Party.
It would be worth mentioning here that Mohd Azam Khan, who had been in and out of Samajwadi Party only to return back to party fold before the elections, was not happy with the manner in which Mulayam Singh Yadav courted Imam Bhukhari and promised assembly seat for his son-in-law in Saharanpur.
Azam khan had always been Muslim face of Samajwadi Party especially during Babri mosque agitation when Azam Khan had acquired important position in Muslim community.
Imam Bukhari got Mulayam Singh Yadav to give assembly seat for his son-in-law Umar Khan but he lost the elections and just managed to save his deposit.
After his son-in-law lost the elections when there was almost wave in favour Samajwadi Party, Imam Syed Ahmad Bukhari wanted Mulayam Singh Yadav to give ticket to Rajya Sabha his brother and UP Council seat for his son-in-law.
When Mulayam Singh Yadav refused to oblige Imam Syed Ahmad Bhukari, he shot letter to Samajwadi Party national president in which he claimed to have been the motivating factor for Muslims to vote for Samajwadi Party.
Imam Bhukhari in his letter said he never wanted assembly ticket for his son-in-law and asked him not to contest UP Council polls even. Imam said all he wanted was that 20 per cent population of Muslims should get their share in the ticket distribution for Rajya Sabha and UP Council polls
Mulayam could only give UP Legislative Council ticket to Imam Syed Ahmad Bhukhari’s son in law and accommodated others including Ambika Choudhry, an old loyalist and adjusted Arvind Singh too whose name had figured in list of Rajya Sabha tickets but he was ignored and ticket was given to Jaya Bachchan.
Mohd Azam Khan who was looking for suitable opportunity lambasted Imam Bhukhari and his motive to malign Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Azam Khan said that Imam Syed Ahmad Bhukhari should restrict him to lead the namaj prayers and should not indulge in politics.
Azam Khan dared Imam Bhukhari to contest mayor elections fromMoradabadand announced that if Bhukhari did not lose his deposit, he would quit from active politic.
Defending Mulayam Singh Yadav, Azam Khan said that if ‘netaji’ (Mulayam ) had given Imam’s brother Rajya Sabha nomination and son-in-law UP Council seat , then it was presumed all Muslims in the country had got their dues.
It may be noted that Imam Bhukhari was so upset with denial of Rajya Sabha ticket to his brother that he said that injustice was being done to Muslims
Significantly enough all those Muslims MLAs from Samajwadi Party who are against Azam Khan rushed to Delhi to express solidarity with Imam Syed Ahmad Bukhari.
Although senior cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav said that fight between Azam Khan and Imam Bukhari was an internal matter of Samajwadi Party but Samajwadi Party national President wants to balance between the both leaders and retain both of them in party fold. (IPA)
