By IANS,
Lucknow : Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav Tuesday asked his one-time confidant Azam Khan to sink his differences with him and other partymen and get back to party activities.
Khan is one of the founders of the party and is reportedly miffed at Yadav for his recent bonhomie with rebel Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kalyan Singh, who was the chief minister in 1992 when the Babri mosque was razed in Ayodhya.
“Azam has struggled a lot in the formation of the Samajwadi Party. I request him to sort out his differences and come along with us and work for the party,” Yadav told reporters.
Khan, a Samajwadi Party legislator from Rampur, has been convenor of the Babri Masjid Action Committee and has fought fervently for the restoration of the mosque.
“I tried my best to contact him, but to no avail. Today (Tuesday) I called him up at least 15-20 times, but there was no response from his side,” Mulayam Singh Yadav said.
“Through media reports, I have come to know that Khan wants to know my stand towards the minority community.”
“It’s very clear. I along with the party will continue to take up issues concerning the minority community. Samajwadi Party has always worked for their betterment and will continue to do the same in the future,” Yadav said.
“Come what may, I will not comprise with the interests of Muslims,” he stressed.
In reply to a question over reported differences between party general secretary Amar Singh and Khan, Yadav said: “I personally want Azam should directly talk to me if he has any differences with any partyman.”
Yadav also asked Khan to participate in the party’s national executive meet March 21.
“I hope Azam will not turn down my request and will participate in the meeting.”
Asked to comment on the alleged hate speech Varun Gandhi delivered in Pilibhit, Yadav said: “People do such things to gain popularity.”