Mulayam Singh to ask Election Comission to lift ban on Azam Khan

Lakhimpur Kheri:  Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Saturday said he will appeal to the poll panel to lift ban on  Azam Khan, who is under fire for his remarks about Kargil conflict.

Mr Yadav said the ban  imposed by the Election Commission on Mr Khan was “inappropriate” and it has led to resentment among the people. 

 

“The EC should review its decision of imposing ban on Azam Khan,  there is resentment among the people because of ban on him,” Mr Yadav said at a rally in Bareilly. 

The EC had on Friday  banned the Samajwadi Party minister from holding public meetings, processions or roadshows in Uttar Pradesh.

 

Meanwhile the UP police on Saturday booked Mr Khan on charges of promoting enmity and other offences but he remained defiant. Mr Khan has also been booked for his “Kutte Ka Baccha” (puppy) remarks, attacking Narrendra Modi during a rally.

 

Speaking in Rampur on Friday, Mr Khan said he did not say anything wrong and was a “nationalist”. He said that the EC’s step was “premature”.

 

The UP police on Saturday registered two cases against Narendra Modi’s close aide Amit Shah in Muzaffarnagar for alleged violation of the model code of conduct following a direction of the Election Commission, which has also banned him from campaigning in the state.

 

Meanwhile, the BJP said that it was “deeply saddened” by the poll panel’s order on party leader Amit Shah and defended his “revenge remarks”, which had triggered a political storm and invited condemnation. The poll panel had on Friday banned Mr Shah, who has been accused of making hate speeches, from holding public meetings, or roadshows in UP.