Azam Khan’s Taliban comment sets off row

Lucknow: After the Saifai Mahotsav controversy, the Samajwadi Party on Friday paved the way for a similar controversy by turning its supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav’s 75th birthday into a lavish event.

Mr Yadav’s 75th birthday Saturday is being celebrated in Rampur by state minister Azam Khan. Mr Azam Khan set off another controversy Friday when he reacted strongly to questions about the funding of the birthday celebrations, and sarcastically said: “Yes, Dawood Ibrahim, Abu Salem and the Taliban are paying for the birthday celebrations of Mulayam Singh Yadav... Any problems?”