Rampur: Amidst a fragile calm in Bishada, days after the lynching incident, senior Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan attacked Bharatiya Janata Party's state legislator Sangeet Som, saying he is conspiring to kill him.
According to Zee Sangam, Khan also has raised fingers at the former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, saying he is also involved in the conspiracy.
“Sangeet Som and Amar Singh are conspiring to kill me,” Azam told reporters in Rampur, his assembly constituency.
Further taking a dig at Som and Singh, the UP minister also said 'they both belong to the same community'.
Referring to the Z-plus security to Som, one of the accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots, the minister said he had "an army of commandos at his disposal".
The senior Samajwadi Party leader's reaction came days after Som, during a press meet, had said, “Azam Khan wants me to get killed.”
Meanwhile, reacting to the allegations of Azam Khan, state spokesman of BJP, Vijay Bahadur Pathak, said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should ask police to give adequate security to his minister.
"While on one hand it is worrying that even a minister of state is not safe in the regime of his own party, on another, the statements seem to be a result of the possible entry of Amar Singh back into the party that Khan is trying to stop," he added.
The controversial BJP MLA Sangeet Som had earlier alleged that Azam Khan is behind the Dadri lynching case and Muzaffarnagar riots.
During his visit to Dadri, Som had said: "Agar nirdoshon ke khilaf karyawahi ki gayi, to munh-tod jawab hamne pehle bhi diya hai aur abh bhi dena jante hain (If action is taken against those who are innocent, we can give a befitting reply like we have earlier)."
However, in Lucknow, Azam Khan alleged that the Dadri lynching was "pre-planned and executed" by BJP. He also attacked the RSS, saying it is looking for issues to divide communities on religious lines. The SP leader said that he will send a letter to the United Nations about the Dadri killing.
50-year-old Iqlakh was dragged out of his home by a 200-strong mob and beaten to death for allegedly eating beef in Bishada village.
Further, reacting on his statement to approach the UN over Dadri lynching, Azam Khan said, “We can only approach the United Nations, put forth our case and seek justice. What else we can do.”
“No one can force the UN to take action. It is entirely in their (the UN) hands. I can do nothing,” Khan added.
Azam Khan further hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that during his rule injustice is happening.
While indicating towards the friendship of the US President Barack Obama and PM Modi, Azam said, “They (Obama-Modi) share a good relation. Who will listen to our grievances. But, still we have done our bit.”
Further, speaking about Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's controversial comment that - Muslims can continue to live in this country, but they will have to give up eating beef – the senior SP leader said, “Khattar should resign for his irresponsible statement, and if he does not, he should be sacked. He has distorted the secular fabric of the country. His statement is not only unfortunate, but also shameful."
Quoting the Dadri lynching incident, Khan said: “If a person can be killed over suspicion then just sacking a leader from his post for such an irresponsible statement is not enough. If India is a 'land of law' then stringent action should be taken against the Haryana CM. He should not be spared just because he is a leader of Bharatiya Janata Party.”
“Strict action should be taken against Khattar also because we all are scared after his controversial statement over beef eating,” added Khan.
