Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav met senior party leader Azam Khan, who is currently admitted at Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Wednesday amid speculation about a widening rift between the two.
Khan, who faces multiple cases, was released from Sitapur jail on interim bail on 20 May. Akhilesh’s estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav and Azam’s team had accused the SP of not doing enough to get Khan out of jail.
Three days after his release, Khan, the ‘Muslim face’ of the SP, and his MLA son Abdullah had skipped the SP legislature party meeting. Khan’s subsequent meeting with Shivpal added grist to the rumour mill.
SP spokesperson Manoj Singh Kaka said that Akhilesh met Azam Khan around 11.30 am and the meeting went on for “quite long”.
“Yes, it went on for about two-three hours. However, there is no information about Azam sahab’s health. We pray that he gets well soon. His health is important for the secularism of the country. He fought the battle for democracy alongside Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav),” he said.
A senior SP leader told ThePrint that political discussions, too, took place, especially since the Rampur and Azamgarh Lok Sabha bypolls are scheduled for 23 June.
Speaking to ThePrint, SP chief spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhary said, “The meeting was to take an update on Azam Khan’s health and to give good wishes to him. The visit was a personal one, but political discussions may also have taken place.”
There have been reports that Azam Khan’s wife Tanzeem Fatima may be the SP candidate from Rampur in the bypoll, but there has been no confirmation from the SP yet.
Soon after the visit, Akhilesh tweeted pictures of him with Azam Khan, other party leaders, and some members of Khan’s medical team. “Praying for your good health… hope you get healthy and return soon,” he wrote.
According to SP sources, Azam Khan, 73, has been experiencing weakness and problems related to his blood sugar and blood pressure levels. “He does not have any other serious ailment,” a source said. “He is 73 and was in poor health even when in jail. If a person remains in jail for 27 months at this age, problems are inevitable.”
When asked about the alleged rift between Khan and Yadav, Kaka blamed the BJP for circulating such reports. “There was never any resentment between Azam Khan and Akhileshji. It is the BJP-affiliated media which has been circulating such news reports. The party’s leadership has been in regular touch with Azam Khan’s family. Former MLA Anoop Gupta’s house was close (to the Sitapur jail), so he was keeping in touch,” he said.
Azam Khan’s case load
Azam was released from jail after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail and gave him time to approach a trial court for regular bail.
The apex court gave the order on a petition filed by Khan alleging a political witchhunt had been mounted against him by the Uttar Pradesh government when an 88th case was filed against him after his name was added as an accused in a 2020 case from Rampur. At the time, Khan was close to securing bail in the last 87th case against him.
Azam Khan currently has 93 cases lodged against him.
After his release, Azam opened up about his relations with Shivpal Yadav and the SP for the on 24 May.
“Till now, I had drawn a line my entire life, not looked at any other boat (political organisation), boarding it was a far cry,” He said. “But I realised that salaam-dua (salutations) should be exchanged with everyone. If chai-nashta (meeting over a meal) happens, there should not be any problem. If leaders of all political parties have this right to meet everyone, have some chai-nashta, visit marriage ceremonies and each other in good times and bad, then I can too. I, too, am a human like them.”
On Monday, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) chief Farooq Abdullah, too, visited the SP leader at the hospital. “Prayed for his speedy recovery, extended best wishes,” the JKNC handle tweeted soon after the visit.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Also read: ‘Land-grab, razing opponents homes, stealing ancient books’ — the 93 cases Azam Khan faces in UP