By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday appologised to muslims for his recent bonhomie with communal forces (read Kalyan Singh). In his appology letter Mulayam admitted his mistake and assured that he will strive for protecting the interests of muslims in future.
Mulayam surrounded by muslims after his maafinama
The move is viewed as a step to prevent of alienation of muslims from the party. The recently concluded assembly by-polls in Dumariyaganj segment relegated SP to fourth position behind the newly floated Peace Party. The result rang alarm bells in SP rank and file with Mualayam playing the trump card.
“I had to align with some wrong elements in Lok Sabha polls to defeat the communal forces from gaining power at the centre. People especially muslim brothers were misled and went through considerable agony. I admit my mistake and appologise to muslim brethren for hurting their sentiments,” said Mulayam in his appology letter. The yadav satrap also assured the muslims that he will not seek help of those responsible for demolition of Babri Masjid in future. “I had saved the Babri Masjid in 1990 as being a chief minister and the BJP led goverment demolished it in 1992. I announce publicly that I will have no truck with such elements in future. My all moves will be aimed for the welfare of the muslims,” he said.
Mulayam’s maafinama
As the news of Mulayam’s apology was flashed in afternoon on Thursday, reactions from all corners started pouring. BJP State President, Surya Pratap Shahi in his statedment termed it as an appeasement policy towards Muslims. “Mulayam should appologise for the killing of karsewaks in 1990. However he preferred to appologise to those who call India as devil. It is sheer appeasement and Indian public understands it much better,” said Shahi.
Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi termed it as a political gimmick with an eye on vote bank. ‘It is just vote bank politics by SP leader. Mulayam knows very well that he has lost ground among muslims so it is just a gimmick to divert their attention. However he will not succeed in his trick this time,” said Joshi.
Estranged BJP leader and former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh termed Mulayam’s statement as an opportunist remark. “He betrayed me and used me during the Lok Sabha polls. He is a traitor and is a deft hand in playing such sort of tricks. He should appologise to backward class for ditching me,” said Kalyan on Thursday.
A group of Muslims greeted Mulayam after his maafinama
Meanwhile, former SP leader Azam Khan did not respond to the comment in the afternoon. Later a fax was dispatched to media houses from his side which narrated Mulayam’s whole saga. “Mulayam should first commit that it is not a gimmick and is from the heart. Else the appology may boomerang. He should also take his clan (referring to Shivpal Yadav’s comment that politicians appologise and there is no harm in it) into confidence before issuing such statements. Muslims will wait and watch rather than jumping to conclusion,” read the fax issued in Azam Khan’s name by his signature and on his official legislature pad.