Don’t succumb to political pressure, Azmi tells officers

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi on Monday warned the district administration of Pratapgarh, where houses of Muslims were burnt after the rape and murder of a Dalit girl in June, to desist from working under pressure of any senior leader.

Azmi also said he had received complaints that the administration implicated innocent people in fake cases at the behest of a "powerful" minister.

Azmi, speaking as the chief guest at a function organised by Jauhar Educational and Welfare Trust, did not name any minister, but said, "There are two ministers and I know them. They may not have direct involvement but fingers are pointed towards them in every case of harassment of Muslims."

The two ministers from Pratapgarh are Raja Bhaiyya, an independent MLA, and Rajaram Pandey, who belongs to the SP. When Azmi spoke, SP MLA Nagendra Yadav and former MP C N Singh, besides several office-bearers of the party, were present.

After the attack on Muslim houses also — which took place in Asthan village — fingers were raised at the role of people close to Raja Bhaiyya and Shailendra Kumar, SP MP from Kaushambi. Azmi at that time was asked by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to lead a probe panel of the Samajwadi Party. Azmi had then stated that Raja Bhaiyya owed moral responsibility of the incident as it occurred in his area of influence.

Azmi, president of Maharashtra SP, said, "For me, Pratapgarh is my second home after Azamgarh. I warn the district officials not to work under pressure of senior leaders of the district. Else I am also not a small fry and will exert pressure on them from Lucknow."

On his frequent visits to Pratapgarh —- this is his third since June —- Azmi remarked: "Muslims in the area had contacted me and they had openly stated that no SP leader had the courage to raise their issue. They are being targeted by some influential persons. I decided to take up their cause and will keep coming to Pratapgarh."

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