Congress leader Pramod Krishnam met Azam Khan in Sitapur jail yesterday amid reports of his displeasure with Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav. After this meeting, Pramod Krishnam described Azam Khan’s condition with an old lion. He said that many things happened with Azam Khan. It is not appropriate to make them public, but I can say that seeing them, I felt that – ‘Not one or two wounds, the whole body is a sieve…’.
In a conversation with Aaj Tak, Pramod Krishnam said, ‘What happened between me and him, I do not think it will be more appropriate to tell. But I can say that there was talk between us on the political situation of the country, the fate of the country, the future of India. The way the politics of hate is happening in UP was discussed. He told about the atrocities he had done against him. Told them the tortures being inflicted on them. It’s been more than two years. I am ashamed of our democratic set-up in the kind of cases where a strong leader like Azam Khan has been kept in jail. A person who has been a member of Parliament. It has been an important part of Indian politics. How many times has been a minister, how many times he has been an MLA, how many people have he served. I am very sorry to see Azam Khan today. The way he has been kept in jail, I feel very sad.
There is a small room, sackcloth
Pramod Krishnam while describing Azam Khan’s condition in the jail said that there is a small room. There is no cot, no cot, no plank, no good bed, no mattress, no foam mattress, not even a jute mattress in it. There is a bed of sackcloth. There is a gap. There is a dirty floor and there is an open bathroom next to it. Apart from this, there is complete silence in the surrounding barracks. there is no one. It hurt a lot, it hurt.
Pramod Krishnam appeals to CM Yogi
Pramod Krishnam said that ‘I want to appeal to the Chief Minister of UP that this is not right. Treating a political opponent as a personal enemy is not good for democracy. It is against humanity. In a state where the Chief Minister is a sadhu, it is not right to treat a decent person like this. I request that the false cases against Azam Khan should be dropped. Can it be thought that a person like Azam Khan can steal goats, chickens, books. Azam Khan is the minister and can steal a bottle of liquor from the liquor contract by getting him off the car. What is this? Is this possible? The cases against Azam Khan. More than two years have passed in these cases but bail is not being allowed. He passed away in Corona for more than a year. Sugar is gone. He is undergoing treatment. He has a toothache. It’s very painful. I felt very sad to meet him.
Water on SP’s hopes
Pramod Krishnam said that I think when this crisis came on Azam Khan, he expected that SP would support him. But he had forgotten that when SP did not treat Netaji well, then what would be good treatment with Azam Khan Sahab. As a result of this, he refused to meet the SP leaders. When a person’s heart hurts, trouble comes, he hopes that those who are my own will support me. But Azam Khan feels that SP did not support him in times of trouble. This pain has hurt his heart.
Akhilesh’s words have no meaning now
Pramod Krishnam said that there have been many talks between him and Azam Khan but it is not appropriate to make them public. What Akhilesh is saying or will say now has no meaning. It has been two years for Azam Khan, how many dharnas did the SP hold in the jail cell. Tell me a statement. Azam Khan is a great leader. The atrocities committed against them. They themselves feel the oppression they have suffered. If this was not true, why would he deny his party leaders?
Azam wanted to meet SP leaders
The Congress leader said that Azam Khan can meet whomever he wants to meet. The administration cannot get them to meet whom they do not want to meet. I also called the district administration and jail administration. He asked Azam Khan and informed me. I went on time and met. I think the SP leaders are lying on the meeting. It is worth mentioning that Azam Khan had refused to meet the SP leaders who went to meet him in jail on Sunday. On this, SP leaders had alleged that Azam Khan wanted to meet, the administration did not allow him to meet. Pramod Krishnam said that only Azam Khan can tell after coming out of jail, what were his hopes from SP, which were dashed but I felt like seeing his condition – ‘One or two wounds are not complete’ The body itself is a sieve…’