Akhilesh Yadav and Azam Khan (Images/Agencies)
NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party (SP) president and former Uttar Pradesh chief ministerAkhilesh Yadav on Tuesday welcomed the release of senior party leader Azam Khan from Sitapur jail. He described it as a “matter of relief and joy” not only for him and his family but also for those who believe in justice.In a post on X, Yadav wrote, “The release of the honorable Azam Khan ji is a matter of relief and joy not only for him and his family and all of us, but also for all those people who have faith in justice. Heartfelt thanks to the court for upholding faith in justice.” Targeting the ruling BJP, he said those who filed “fake cases” against Khan have now learned that “every lie has an expiry date and so does every conspiracy.”The former CM added that Azam Khan would continue to stand with the neglected and the oppressed and remain a symbol of “emotional unity” while carrying forward the struggle for social justice with socialist values.Speaking to reporters, Yadav reiterated his gratitude to the court and expressed hope that no fresh “false cases” would be filed by the BJP government in the state. “SP leader Azam Khan has been released from jail. I would like to thank the Court for this. We, the Samajwadis, believed that the Court would do justice. We hope that in the time to come, no false cases will be filed and no injustice will be done by the BJP,” he said. The SP chief stressed that Azam Khan has played a crucial role in the party’s long fight against the BJP. He further promised that, just as BJP leaders have had cases withdrawn against them, a future Samajwadi Party government would withdraw all “false cases” filed against Khan.Samajwadi Party leader and six-time MLA from Jaswantnagar, Shivpal Singh Yadav, who had come to receive Azam Khan, also hit out at the Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath-led government.He alleged that Khan was “framed” in false cases and welcomed the court’s decision to grant him bail. “Azam Khan was framed by the government in false cases. However, the court has granted him bail and has provided relief to him in cases. I welcome this decision. Many false cases were filed against him. The Samajwadi Party stands beside him,” said Shivpal. Shivpal also rejected speculation about Khan joining the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), asserting that the party stands firmly with him. “These are all lies. Samajwadi Party is with him completely,” he said.Azam Khan, a ten-time MLA from Rampur and former minister was released from Sitapur jail on Tuesday after spending nearly 23 months in custody. He had been jailed in connection with the Quality Bar land encroachment case and other charges. Police records show he faces 111 criminal cases, though he has now secured bail in all cases where he was convicted.Large crowds of supporters, including Khan’s son Adeeb, gathered outside Sitapur jail to welcome him, prompting police to deploy drones to monitor the situation. Khan had earlier been released on bail in 2022 but was sent back to jail in October 2023 after fresh charges were filed against him. His lawyer has maintained that many of the cases were politically motivated, with several already withdrawn, discharged or pending trial.
