Lucknow, Aug 19 — Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Wednesday launched a sharp attack at the Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, holding the two leaders responsible for the increasing troubles faced by the jailed former Rampur MP Azam Khan.
Rajbhar, who is also the President of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), alleged that the SP leaders meet the Uttar Pradesh government officials at night and brief them about the illegal activities of Azam Khan, following which raids and investigations are carried out.
The Minister's remarks came after Enforcement Directorate's multiple raids in Rampur, Saharanpur and Delhi in connection with Azam Khan's illegal assets on Wednesday. Ten locations, including the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its trust, were searched as part of the case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Speaking to IANS, Rajbhar said, "Akhilesh Yadav ji and Shivpal ji are responsible for this. They do not want Azam Khan ji to live. These are the same people who meet Yogi Adityanath at night and criticise the BJP during the day. At night, they tell him about what has been done and ask him to get these things investigated, and then raids begin in the morning. Akhilesh Yadav ji and SP leaders are the biggest ones responsible for this incident."
The Minister alleged that the SP leadership was playing a role in bringing further scrutiny upon Azam Khan by allegedly approaching Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and raising issues related to the former Rampur MP.
Meanwhile, the SP criticised the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, stating that it has "nothing left" to offer the public, and hence is resorting to "harassing" people associated with the previous governments.
Speaking to IANS, SP spokesperson Ashutosh Verma said, "The Bharatiya Janata Party engages in vindictive politics. It has nothing of its own to offer. Whenever it comes to power, it pursues vindictive politics against previous governments."
"The BJP has nothing left to offer the country, which is why it is harassing people associated with previous governments," the SP spokesperson stated.
According to the officials, the raids are aimed at tracing proceeds of crime, along with digital evidence, documents, and financial records connected to the diversion and utilisation of government funds.