The Samajwadi Party Thursday removed Kamal Farooqi as secretary after his controversial remark on the arrest of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal. He had claimed that Bhatkal was arrested “because he is a Muslim”, a remark that was severely criticised by both the Congress and the BJP.
SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav told Mr Farooqi in a letter that SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav removed him as secretary with immediate effect. Mr Farooqi was inducted into the SP just before the UP Assembly elections and fielded on TV channels to air party views. He was apparently going far beyond the party brief on issues, which didn’t go down well with the leadership.
The SP acted even though Mr Farooqi apologised for his remarks, and claimed his comments were misunderstood.