By Mohammad Faisal for TwoCircles.net,
The Muslim face of Samajwadi Party, Azam Khan after his re-induction in the party, loves to be in news. With the SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav banking on this fire brand leader for making a comeback in Uttar Pradesh’s politics, Khan shares his plans with TwoCircles.net during an interaction on the sidelines of party’s convention held in Gorakhpur between February 10-12.
You will be sharing the stage after over one year. Any special plans to make the moment memorable?
I will try and Inshallah will work for my community and party. My disenchantment with the party leaders is a thing of past. What were the reasons behind them is well known by now. It was not an issue of individuals but a matter of ideology.
Mulayam Singh and Azam Khan
There was opposition to your rejoining by a section of Muslim leaders in the party.
I have nothing against them but such leaders should realise that no one becomes Azam Khan overnight. It took 40 years of unblemished record with no allegations that people still love me. I have been in Varanasi jail during emergency period for over a year and faced all the hardships. I feel sad when some people raise fingers at me. Even today my house is situated in a narrow lane in Rampur. I do not own any petrol pump or gas agency. In Rampur people continue to listen to me even after 40 years. It is the third generation which is listening to me. If I was wrong who will care for me for four decades.
Some fringe Muslim-based parties as Peace Party and Ulema Council are expected to damage the poll prospects for your party in coming elections.
They may be successful in some areas but one thing is clear that you cannot do politics with only one caste or religion. You have to take everyone along with you in the party. Such parties will not win but only divide the votes. Muslims should understand that what these parties are up to –making us mazboot or majboor. One of them has a pious name (read: Ulema Council). Even I thought that it will have some touch of Islamic movement but they all are chip of the same block. I will not comment about the real group behind them but there is certainly someone.
A case of sedition has been lodged against you in Badaun. Why are you always in such controversies?
It is the press which presents my statements in distorted manner. The case relates to my remark on Kashmir and Ghulam Nabi Azad. I even today can say that I am loyal to my country and I want its geographical boundaries extend as they were during Aurangzeb’s regime.
My only contention is that Ghulam Nabi Azad is not a leader of Indian Muslims as a whole. The Congress could not find a single Muslim leader besides him who can be given cabinet birth.
Salman Khurshid was elevated as Cabinet Minister.
They should be thankful to us. It is strange we have to plead their case in their party.
Now as a case has been registered, what will be your next step?
I will not apply for bail. I have 54 cases against me and 30 of them have Non Bailable Warrant (NBWs). They registered a case at the behest of Bajrang Dal and now fingers are being raised over my loyalty. Those who have looted their motherland are roaming free and case has been registered against me.
Your party also did not protest over the matter.
I had stopped them from taking to roads. I do not want fundamentalist forces to take advantage of the situation.
Your dream project Jauhar University is yet to see the light of the day.
Yes, the project is close to my dream. Presently it is running as a college and needs government clearance for being upgraded as a university. It has seen many lows. First the state government refused to sign the bill during SP regime. Then we brought a private university bill but surprisingly the most severe opposition came from Congress and most feeble protest by the BJP. The BSP boycotted the proceedings.
What does that imply in your words?
The Congress people were against it as they do not want Muslim students to study modern education and succeed and proceed in life. My dream of Jauhar University includes all the modern education courses under one roof. We have bought a whole 250 acres of land for the purpose. Anyone can come and see it at Rampur.
You intend to set it up on the lines of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
Yes, the AMU started off as a college and became university in 1920 during British period. I had made plans for setting it up as a university. Only a clearance from higher education department is required, rest all is ready.