Days after former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav hinted on forging alliance with other parties to take on BJP, senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan too extended support to the idea.
“Alliance with other parties is needed to save the rights of the minority community. I will support such alliance,” Azam told HT.
“The party may have alliance with political parties led by Mamta ji (Banerjee), Mayawati and other leaders who are striving to secure the better future of the country,” he added.
Criticising the recent crackdown on illegal slaughter houses in the state, Khan said, “Nai sarkar ke samne bahut bade bade kaam hain par uska dhyan bas logon ke gosht par hai (The new government has many big tasks on its hand but it is only concentrating on meat).”
“The government must take steps to stop slaughter both on streets and in slaughter houses,” he said, ostensibly referring to incident of killing of a man by cow vigilantes in Alwar.
To protest the growing vigilantism in the name of cow protection, Khan had recently returned the cows gifted to him by a seer. He had stated that miscreants could kill the cattle to score political points and defame him.
{{/usCountry}}To protest the growing vigilantism in the name of cow protection, Khan had recently returned the cows gifted to him by a seer. He had stated that miscreants could kill the cattle to score political points and defame him.
{{/usCountry}}Though he criticised the state government for crackdown on meat, Khan praised chief minister Yogi Adityanath for forming anti-Romeo squads to prevent harassment of women.
“I am in favour of anti-Romeo squads, but these squads should not be limited only to parks. They must also prevent harassment of women on streets and in marketplaces,” Khan said.
Commenting on the poor performance of his party in the assembly election, Khan said, “The results are a reflection of people mandate and we accept it. We must introspect and find out what mistakes we made.”
Asked about the reasons behind SP’s abysmal result, Azam said, “Sara nuksan bas chunav se pehle chhee (six) mahino main hua (We suffer losses only in last six months before elections.”
On tussle in the Samajwadi Party, he said. “Hamne to bahut samjhaya aur kya karta (I tried to make them understand).”