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Rampur, October 31 (IANS) After 23 months behind bars, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, in a rare and unfiltered conversation from his Rampur residence, gave many details on his unbreakable relationship with Akhilesh Yadav and the bitter truth of life after going to jail.
The 76-year-old firebrand, once a towering figure in the corridors of power in Uttar Pradesh, spoke to IANS with the poise of a survivor, sharp wit, philosophical musings and a fiery call for minority rights.
Khan, who was released from Sitapur jail in September amid multiple criminal cases, dismissed it as a “fabricated vendetta” that painted a grim picture of India’s democratic decline.
“In Varanasi jail, democracy felt like a distant dream,” he said, narrowing his eyes.
“There is fear in the country – officers are not doing their duty on time, but are scared. If the India Bloc abandons its skepticism about its vote-bank and adopts true alliances, it can uproot the NDA.”
On the Bihar elections, Khan predicted the Grand Alliance’s lead, criticizing the NDA’s “burden-shifting strategy”.
He condemned the symbolism by quipping, “A hat coming out of a pocket does not make a leader pro-Muslim.”
His coordination with Akhilesh emerged as the foundation stone. On the rift rumours? “Media fairy tales,” scoffed Khan. “Our 45-year saga with the Yadav family continues. They have traveled to jail several times – bonds like ours are not dependent on travel.”
Reflecting on Mulayam Singh Yadav’s absence, Khan sighs: “Netaji’s survival could have fueled the movement, but today’s armed forces laws demand caution. Injustice is my destiny, yet Kapil Sibal’s court magic quashed 27 FIRs within minutes.”
On his own travails, he rejected fantasies of revenge: “If SP returns in 2027, there will be justice – not retribution – for the victims of Sambhal, Bareilly.”
Financially distressed by the IT raids, with only Rs 3,500 recovered from Khan’s pocket and very little gold from his wife’s pocket, Khan is dependent on the double pension he gets from eight consecutive Rampur wins.
He said, “There is no hope of seats for me, votes have increased every time.”
Khan laughed at retirement. “You journalists come towards the flickering lamps. Mine remains lit – the weakness of health is temporary. When the game starts, I will swing the bat.”
On the dangers of life, he invoked fate. “The enemies plot in vain; I have escaped bullets, pistols falling at my feet. Allah decides.”
Khan’s clarion call, “Muslims are not mere ballot papers. We have supported welfare governments in UP.”
–IANS
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