Mulayam says will contest against Akhilesh for his anti-Muslim bias

SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav today stunned party workers by declaring he would fight against son Akhilesh Yadav if he did not shed his "negative approach" towards the Muslims, in an apparent effort to keep the community glued to him after a split.

With the party he founded 25 years ago in a quandary following the revolt by his Chief Minister son and a split in the Muslim votes appearing a foregone conclusion, Mulayam, in a bid to get the backing of the community, which has stood solidly behind him for years, minced no words in accusing Akhilesh of nurturing a "negative approach" towards them.
 

The hard-hitting remarks by the 77-year-old leader came when he addressed party workers at the SP headquarters here amid the battle for supremacy in the state's ruling party, just a day before filing of nominations starts for 73 seats in western UP having considerable presence of Muslims.

Apparently resigned to admitting the split in the party, Mulayam said he was "helpless" in preventing it but made it clear he would move court if the Election Commission's decision on party's name and election symbol 'bicycle' went against him.

"I always advocated the interest of Muslims. When I ensured appointment of a Muslim as state's Director General of Police (DGP), Akhilesh did not talk to me for 15 days. He did not want any Muslim on this post. It sent out an anti-Muslim message," he alleged.

The SP founder alleged that Akhilesh had a "negative approach" towards Muslims and that he was playing into the hands of Ramgopal Yadav, who was working "on directions of BJP".

"Akhilesh is acting at the behest of Ramgopal. If he does not listen, I will fight against him," he said, adding Ramgopal has been giving instructions to Akhilesh from Delhi over phone. Mulayam's cousin and Rajya Sabha MP Ramgopal Yadav has stood by Akhilesh in the fight for control over the party.

"I will live for Muslims and die for them. If it comes to Muslims' interest, I will also fight against him (Akhilesh)", he said. Mulayam currently represents Azamgarh in the Lok Sabha.

"Don't you know how I took a stand to prevent demolition of Babri Masjid? We were in crisis then too," Mulayam told a crowd of party workers, most of them Muslims.

Mulayam had earned the sobriquet of "Mullah" after the police firing on 'Karsevaks' (Hindu volunteers) in Ayodhya to protect the Babri mosque.