Rampur, Oct 31: In his first candid conversation since his release from jail, Samajwadi Party stalwart Azam Khan spoke from his Rampur residence, offering a rare glimpse into his post-incarceration reflections, his enduring friendship with Akhilesh Yadav, and his unflinching views on the state of Indian democracy.
The 76-year-old leader, released from Sitapur Jail in September after spending 23 months behind bars, described his imprisonment as a dark chapter marked by “fabricated vendettas” and political persecution. “Democracy felt like a distant dream inside jail. Fear ruled the system—people worked not out of duty, but dread,” he said, asserting that the INDIA Bloc could defeat the NDA if it forgoes “vote-bank cynicism” and focuses on genuine unity.
Commenting on Bihar’s elections, Khan predicted an edge for the Mahagathbandhan, accusing the NDA of “burden-shifting tactics.” Taking a jibe at tokenism, he remarked, “A skullcap from a pocket doesn’t make a leader pro-Muslim.”
On speculation of a rift with Akhilesh Yadav, Khan dismissed it as “media fiction.” He reaffirmed, “Our 45-year bond with the Yadav family isn’t built on visits; it’s built on trust.” Reflecting on the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, he said, “Had Netaji been alive, agitations might’ve stirred—but today’s laws are weaponised.”
Recounting courtroom victories, Khan credited Kapil Sibal for quashing 27 FIRs “in minutes.” Financially, he said he survives on dual pensions after IT raids “yielded just ₹3,500.”
Rejecting thoughts of retirement, the Rampur strongman declared, “My lamp still burns. Health falters, but resolve doesn’t. When the game resumes, I’ll swing the bat.”
Khan ended with a pointed message: “Muslims aren’t mere ballots; we’ve always backed welfare and justice.”
