Since walking out of prison on bail last month, Samajwadi Party (SP) Mohammad Azam Khan has been keeping a low profile in his home in Rampur’s Mumtaz Park neighbourhood.
Once one of the most powerful ministers in Uttar Pradesh and the Samajwadi Party’s (SP) tallest leader from the Muslim community, Khan, a 10-time MLA from Rampur Sadar, has seen his political influence dwindle since the cases against him started to pile up starting in 2019, with accusations ranging from land grabbing and cheating to criminal trespassing and hate speech.
A day before SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is expected to visit him at his home, on October 8, Khan talks about prison, and his future. Excerpts:
You first spent 27 months in Sitapur jail and then 23 months the second time. What was it like in prison?
Azam Khan: The treatment was very humane, filled with humanity.
Did you ever question your political future?
Azam Khan: Many messages came from the outside… From all sides… These are just stories. Who would have dared to speak to me? I am just telling you what I have heard.
Since your disqualification from the Assembly, the Rampur Sadar seat has gone to your long-time rival Akash Saxena of the BJP. Your camp has alleged police and administrative excesses.
Azam Khan: He (Saxena) doesn’t have the status of a rival. His father also didn’t have the status. Once, I used to be a rival of the palaces here and I had to pay the price. As far as the bypoll is concerned, when did it even happen? Had any news channel or newspaper shown the truth, it would have sparked a revolution.
You have worked closely with Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh has been at the helm of the SP for the past several years. What difference do you see in their working styles?
Azam Khan: He (Mulayam) built the party. From the ground up. No one among us can reach his stature. Not even in the future. But Akhilesh ji is holding it together and that credit goes to him. As for our personal relationship, he respects me immensely, and I would like to say that in the new era of politics, he is the most cultured political leader.
In Bihar, the Opposition has been protesting against the revision of electoral rolls. Rahul Gandhi has also accused the Election Commission and BJP of ‘vote chori (theft)’. What do you think about these issues?
Azam Khan: These are all secondary issues. You are not getting to the root … Advise Rahul ji, advise Akhilesh ji, and the other parties, advise Tejashwi (Prasad Yadav) ji to make what happened in Rampur (bypoll in 2022) a symbol. If they had fought against what happened in the Rampur bypoll (Muslim areas were allegedly not allowed to vote), then perhaps even the electoral roll revision (Special Intensive Revision) wouldn’t have caused any harm.
Do you think the SP did not make the bypoll issue a big one?
Azam Khan: Nobody made it an issue. I have no complaints against anyone. The circumstances were not right. That terror still exists today. It requires someone to be ready to be a martyr.
Some of those close to you say that the SP and Akhilesh Yadav have not allowed you to rise in the last five or six years.
Azam Khan: If you were to sit for two or four hours, you could write a book on this subject. I never needed anyone to help me rise. Not yesterday, not today, and with God’s grace, not tomorrow. My own being will take me where it wants to.
You have been a very vocal critic of the Congress in the past. What do you make of its alliance with the SP?
Azam Khan: I am still a critic of the Congress. But it isn’t needed today because there is a more lethal missile in front of us. I don’t want to scratch old wounds … It (the alliance) should continue. A closed fist is better than open fingers.
What do you make of the INDIA bloc?
Azam Khan: I don’t see anyone from the (Muslim) community, which has the second-highest population, on the stage of the INDIA bloc.
It is said the SP did not take your wishes into account in giving the Rampur Lok Sabha ticket.
Azam Khan: I was consulted and it was decided that Akhilesh ji will contest. I found out later that the party decided that Akhilesh ji shouldn’t contest from here. And I was very happy that Akhilesh ji agreed with the party’s decision and didn’t impose my wishes or his… But, I am still hurt by who ended up contesting. Because the people of Rampur, who have faced atrocities and have been humiliated, it was their right to contest. I don’t even know Mohibullah Nadvi (who won from Rampur). He is a very learned man, but no one knows him in Rampur … I have never sold myself, but I found out my aukat (status).
Akhilesh is coming to meet you on Wednesday. Have you thought about what you will discuss?
Azam Khan: There is nothing to think about. He will come, and I will be honoured. It’s not like he is coming for the first time. He has a right over my body and soul. He will come and I will be happy. My honour will increase. But I want only him to come.
Why?
Azam Khan: I will meet only him. Why should others meet me? Who has asked about my family all this time? My wife sat alone, crying on Eid. Did anyone come? Did anyone’s phone call come? So why should they come now?
Did Akhilesh call?
Azam Khan: In those days, our phones and everything were disconnected. So … this will be a meeting of two people. There is no place for a third. No matter who it is.
What role do you see yourself in the SP, moving forward?
Azam Khan: Standing at the very back. The one who stands at the very back is the one who will be seen. Many will rush to be at the front. But the one standing at the very back will be clearly visible from far. I want to stand at the very back. And I always do.