LUCKNOW: A war of words has ensued between Mohammad Azam Khan of Samajwadi Party and Imam of Jama Masjid Maulana Ahmed Buhkhari over the distribution of tickets for the legislative council.
The feud is slowly dividing the Muslims in the party into two camps and party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav is not intervening. Frustrated at being cold-shouldered by the party leadership, Bukhari had sent an emissary to meet the SP president to work out a solution, said highly-placed sources.
The Imam had asked for a Rajya Sabha ticket for his brother, but Mulayam had rejected it and instead supported Azam Khan’s son-in-law, Omar Khan.
Miffed over this move, Bukhari lashed out by saying that Muslims were given a back-seat. Bukhari had also demanded that a minimum three Muslims should be give a place in the seven vacant seats.
Taking strong exception to Imam’s statement, Azam Khan described him as “Musalmano ka saudagar” (a self-styled contractor of the Muslim votes). Azam Khan also alleged that Bukhari wanted tickets for his family members and when denied, he was blackmailing the party leadership.