Azam says Amar is threat to his life

The war of words between two general secretaries of the Samajwadi Party went up a notch as Azam Khan on Friday alleged that Amar Singh was a threat to his life while party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav threatened disciplinary action against Khan.

"What can you expect from a cheap man who has gone mad due to his money power? I pray to god to show him the right path. He poses a threat to my and my family's life," Khan said in Rampur at a press conference.

He was reacting to Amar Singh's allegedly derogatory comments against him during a rally in the same town Thursday.

Without naming Khan, Amar Singh had said: "Someone has promised a hefty reward for anyone who hurls a shoe at me and has also assured that the shoe will be kept in a museum. I challenge the infiltrator to do this."

Amar Singh said if Mulayam Singh does not takes a decision on Khan after the elections, "I will be forced to give a thought to my association with the party.

"Azam Khan thinks that he is an elephant and Jaya Prada and I are like dust particles. But if these dust particles fall in the eyes of an elephant, it can cause a major damage," Singh said.

He was campaigning for the party's candidate Jaya Prada, whose candidature Khan is opposed to.

Differences cropped up between Khan and the party leadership after Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh tied up with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rebel Kalyan singh.

Mulayam Singh has made numerous attempts to pacify Khan, but to no avail.

"Netaji (Mulayam Singh) has asked me to keep quiet and I have been instructed to tolerate Khan if I want to be in the party. Whenever I try to speak anything for the benefit of the party, Mulayam-ji silences me," Amar Singh said.

However, Mulayam Singh has defended Amar Singh.

"Amar Singh has not said a word against Azam Khan and the party will definitely consider taking disciplinary action against Azam Khan after the elections," Mulayam Singh said in an interview to a news channel Friday afternoon.

"I made numerous efforts to talk to Azam Khan but he is avoiding me. If you have any grievances you should approach me directly rather than revealing them through the media," he added.

Meanwhile, the party's Maharashtra unit chief Abu Azmi, who was in Rampur Friday to campaign for Jaya Prada, alleged that his convoy was attacked by over a dozen people.

"My vehicle was attacked by people who were shouting 'Jaya Prada Murdabad' and anti-Samajwadi Party slogans. They broke the glasses of my cars and even tore my clothes," Azmi alleged.

First Published: May 08, 2009 17:11 IST