Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader and minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, Azam Khan said on Wednesday that if any country was ready to shelter him, then he would leave India along with his family.
“The circumstances being created suggest that difficult days are ahead for the Muslim community,” he said, as per ANI.
On the allegations that he was encouraging conversions of people to Islam in Rampur, the SP leader categorically said, “The matter is not in my knowledge.”
He added, “If a person like me is treated this way. If presence of a person who has not taken a single penny as bribe is lethal to country, I honestly say that if any country agrees to shelter me, I will leave India along with my family.”
On Dr BR Ambedkar's 124th birth anniversary, April 14, around 800 people belonging to the Valmiki community in Rampur allegedly 'converted' to Islam in order to save their houses from demolition.
The Rampur district administration had earlier this month marked some houses for demolition, which as per the locals was to pave way for a shopping mall and which was apparently being backed by Khan, who represents Rampur in UP Assembly.
As per reports, the around 800 people belonging to the Valmiki community said that they would embrace Islam when it became clear that their houses will be demolished.
A cleric was also called from Amroha in order to perform the rituals but when he did not turn up, the people went ahead and announced conversion and sported skull caps.
Meanwhile, the BJP blamed Azam for the mass conversions.
Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath said that the administration was threatening to demolish the houses of Valimikis as the community has refused to convert to Islam.
On the other hand, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sadhvi Prachi also hit out at Khan, saying that the UP minister was trying to convert Rampur into Pakistan.
On April 11, Khan had joined Samajwadi Party activists during a protest against the alleged delay in demolition of an 'unauthorised colony', leaving the red-faced officials squirming, and relented only when the collector 'apologised', as per PTI.
The dharna, which began in evening and continued till midnight at Gandhi memorial, was organised to protest against administration's alleged 'dilly-dallying' tactics in razing the unauthorised colony inhabited by people of a particular community.
The dharna was called-off after Superintendent of Police Sadhna Goswami and collector CK Tripathi assured Khan of initiating necessary action.
There are 67 houses in the area and the administration reportedly wants 22 of them to be demolished. It has also offered free houses in Kanshiram colony as compensation to those who will be affected.
(With Agency inputs)
