SP will put pressure on those taking law into their own hands: Azam Khan

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Wednesday said the party would not hesitate to take action against any outfit trying to take the law into their own hands, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), in Uttar Pradesh.

"There is no pressure from our side. Everyone has to accept that. No one has the right to destroy the environment. Everybody has seen the result of a destroyed environment, it affected the poor the most. The poor cannot be taken for granted. There is no pressure from my side, but there is pressure from the law," Khan said.

"We protest only when people attempt to take law into their own hands. They will go to jail only if they take law into their own hands. ...Everyone has the freedom to do whatever their work is. However, if there is an attempt to take the law into their own hands, or come in the way of the law, then the government is strong enough to reinstate order," he added.

Khan was referring to the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to ban the VHP's 'Sankalp Diwas' on October 18 over fears that it could result in a communal flare-up.

The decision was reportedly taken in view of security concerns, especially after the recent communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and surrounding areas.

The VHP has given a call to observe ' Sankalp Diwas' in Ram Sewak Puram in Ayodhya to take a resolve for launching an agitation for rebuilding the Ram Temple.