Son Abdullah takes off from where Azam left
RAMPUR: A day after the election commission (EC) banned Azam Khan from campaigning, the Samajwadi Party introduced his engineer son Abdullah Azam Khan to fill in the vacuum created by the absence of his father.
In his maiden political speech, Abdullah, who shared dais with chief minister Akhilesh Yadav at a rally at Tanda town on Saturday, attacked rival parties for ignoring contribution of Muslims in making India a strong nation.
A civil engineer, Abdullah is currently pursuing M Tech from a Noida-based college.
Admitting that he has come to address the rally because his father had been banned, Abdullah took the issue to the people’s court by asking the gathering: “Tell me whether election commission had done right or wrong?”
The crowed roared in unison, “No.” Apparently overwhelmed by an affirmative response, junior Azam launched a scathing attack on rivals, in his father’s style; “They are creating an atmosphere of hatred and divid- ing people. It is our country and we have been giving sacrifices since the Independence.”
Like his father, he raked up the issue of discrimination with Muslims: “People doubt us in Delhi and nearby towns and don’t give us houses on rent.”
He reminded people how his ‘Abbu’ (Azam) was targeted and people misused social media to launch a venomous campaign against him.
Presence of Abdullah on the dais infused a fresh vigour into supporters of Azam and the SP in the minister’s native town. “Un me (Abdullah) Azam Khan ka aks hain (he is shadow of Azam Khan),” commented Shanu, media incharge of the banned leader.