I never welcomed 'mafias' in party; Sonelal Patel

Jaunpur, Sep 7 (UNI) Apna Dal today denied reports of fielding mafias' including Abu Salem in the coming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

''Apna Dal has no relations with Dawood Ibrahim or Abu Salem,'' party president Sonelal Patel said.

Earlier, Mr Patel had said no criminal was 'untouchable' for Apna Dal. ''We will give such elements ticket in the assembly polls, if they promise to lead a clean life after coming in politics.'' He had also said if Salem wants, then Apna Dal would give him ticket to contest the assembly polls from Mubarakpur.

Salem had shown interest in contesting the UP polls and his family members have started campaigning for the don lodged in the Mumbai jail.

Underworld don Babloo Srivastava had unsuccessfully contested the last Lok Sabha election from Sitapur on Apna Dal ticket.

UNI XC-ATI MB YA BS1432