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UP elections: After losing arms license, Atiq Ahmad says ‘follow rules’

The Samajwadi Party and its government are clearly on a different tangent when it comes to criminals in politics.

Updated on: Dec 23, 2016, 01:14:28 IST
Hindustan Times, Lucknow | By
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The Samajwadi Party and its government are clearly on a different tangent when it comes to criminals in politics.

Atiq Ahmed (L) greets supporters on way to rally venue in Kanpur on Thursday. (HT Photo)
Atiq Ahmed (L) greets supporters on way to rally venue in Kanpur on Thursday. (HT Photo)

The ruling Samajwadi Party headed by his uncle Shiv Pal Singh Yadav announced Mafiosi-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad as the party’s official nominee from Kanpur Cantonment seat for UP assembly elections 2017 much against chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s stand against entry for criminals into politics.

Days after the announcement, Atiq and his goons had barged into Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture Technology and Sciences (SHIATS) and were caught on CCTV, assaulting the security staff. A FIR was later registered against Atiq and his three bodyguards.

“The DM Allahabad has issued a notice asking these men to deposit their firearms but they have sought time extension saying they will be in Kanpur on Thursday to attend the party convention,” said an Allahabad administration official.

Just ahead of his first public meeting as the party’s candidate, Atiq appealed to his supporters saying , “I urge all party workers and colleagues (accompanying me) not to bring any firearms to the party convention, pay taxes on the toll barriers on the route and follow traffic rules.” The appeal in the form of advertisements appeared in local dailies.

Kanpur Cantonment seat, which has a siezable Muslim postulation, is presently held by BJP’s Raghunandan Bhaudauria. The BSP too has put up a Muslim from this constituency.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M Tariq Khan

M Tariq Khan is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times political bureau in Lucknow. He has spent over a decade doing development and investigative journalism. Apart from covering political parties and various departments of Uttar Pradesh Government, he also writes on minorities politics and has a flair for offbeat stories.

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