Approaching UN was Azam's personal decision: Shivpal Yadav

MEERUT: Uttar Pradesh Minister Shivpal Yadav today said Samajwadi Party had nothing to do with Azam Khan writing a letter to the UN to highlight the plight of minorities in India as it was his "personal decision".

"Approaching the United Nations was Azam Khan's personal decision and the party or the government has nothing to do with it," Yadav said on the sidelines of an archery competition here.

Khan had on October 5 sought intervention of the United Nations into the "miseries" of minorities in India.

In a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Khan had also attacked RSS accusing it of working to turn secular and pluralistic India into a majoritarian theocratic nation as 'Hindu Rashtra'.

Over appointment of Anil Kumar Yadav as Chairman of UP Public Service Commission which was yesterday quashed by the Allahabad High Court, Yadav said the appointment was "not illegal but we respect the decision of the High Court".

He claimed that efforts were being made to disturb the communal harmony in the state but "we will not allow this to happen".

Police and administration have been instructed to sternly deal with the anti-social elements, Yadav added.

He said the state government was laying emphasis on sports and plans to open stadiums in villages. Instructions have been issued to all district magistrates in this regard, the Minister said.