A political bomb exploded in the Samajwadi Party on the eve of Diwali and though party leaders claim that “all is still well” in the party fold, the smog is very much visible and palpable.
Senior SP leader from Maharashtra Abu Asim Azmi, in an interview to a daily, has accused UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav of ignoring issues concerning Muslims.
“It is a wrong notion that Muslims are safe in SP rule. In fact, Muslims are at the receiving end. The government is not reacting. No SP leader bothered to visit Faizabad where communal clashes were recently held. Ideally Akhilesh himself should have gone. I do not know what is stopping him,” Mr Azmi was quoted as having said in the interview. Incidentally Mr Azmi was asked to call off his visit to Faizabad by the local officials.
“People are calling me from violence-affected areas and they want me to convey their sufferings to the chief minister but even I cannot meet him. He is so busy that he hardly gives one minute to me in three days. Akhilesh has failed to fulfil the promises he had made to me. I am disappointed with his working,” Mr Azmi said.
He said in the interview that the chief minister appeared to have lost control over the police force and officials. “His grip seems to be too loose and such incidents are recurring in the state. All our hopes are dashed. Muslims had high expectations from the government.”