Azam Khan calls minorities to unite

Rampur (UP), Apr 10: SP leader

today made an appeal to minority communities to remain united in order "to face fascist forces' victimisation".

In an emotionally charged speech, Khan asked the people gathered here, "What crime was committed by the members of minority communities for which we were victimised in Gujarat and Muzaffarnagar?"

"Strengthen your unity and generate feeling of oneness as our population consists of one fifth of the total population, and are capable to face fascist forces victimistaion", he said at the SP rally. On his remarks on the Kargil war, which triggered a controversy, Khan defended himself saying he had never said that the war was won by Muslim soldiers alone and added that soldiers of all communities sacrificed their lives in the war.

Political parties yesterday slammed Khan for saying that it was "Muslim soldiers" who fought for India's victory in the 1999 Kargil war against Pakistan, even as SP reacted cautiously and Khan defended his remarks.

EC officials had said they were studying the video of the controversial speech and vowed to take action, if Khan was found guilty. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was present at the meeting today, defended the firebrand leader, saying vested interests in politics were "making Khan's statements an issue unnecessarily".

PTI