Muslim leaders demand dismissal of the SP government, Azam Khan skips party's Agra meet

LUCKNOW: The SP is facing a political crisis with prominent Muslim leaders from within and outside slamming its UP government over the handling of the Muzaffarnagar riots. SP has electorally benefitted from the backing of Muslims who form 18 per cent of voters in Uttar Pradesh. Its prominent Muslim face, minister Azam Khan, may have shown his displeasure by absenting himself from its key executive meeting in Agra on a day when prominent clerics demanded dismissal of the state government for ‘failing’ to protect Muslims.

Head of Itehad-e-Millat Council, Tauqeer Raza Khan, who was appointed Advisor to the State Handloom Corporation, resigned in protest against the handling of the Muzaffarnagar riots, which has claimed more than 41 lives, mostly Muslims. The SP leadership was shaken by Jamat-e-Ulema-e-Hind general secretary Mohammed Madni’s demand that the SP government be dismissed.

Other important minority organisations like All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawrat too slammed the government for its inability to control the riots. SP tried to undo some damage by raising the issue of providing job quota for Muslims at its Agra executive, but it was lost in the din of demands for dismissal of the state government.

Azam’s absence from the meet has been a follow-up of his constant absence from the Akhilesh Yadav government’s cabinet meetings over the last two months. He backed out of the Agra meet in the last minute claiming illness. “I am unhappy with the recent riots, but speculation about tension with the chief minister is wrong,” he said.