Adeeb not new to controversy

 Independent Rajya Sabha member Mohammad Adeeb, who has sprung a surprise by writing to US President Barack Obama seeking denial of visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is no stranger to controversy.

The election of 57-year-old Adeeb to Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in 2008 was as much a surprise. He became the joint Congress-SP candidate for seat in the Upper House when both parties failed to agree on a common candidate.

At one time, Adeeb was associated with the minority cell of the Congress and considers himself a champion of minority rights. He was also the president of the Aligarh Muslim University Students’ Union in 1967-68.

Adeeb describes himself as a political and social worker on his Rajya Sabha member’s page. He is also a member of the Court of the Aligarh Muslim University and of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.During the Uttar Pradesh assembly election last year, Adeeb had said that the Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav had created his identity as a youth leader but Rahul Gandhi has not made much impact among voters.

He had appealed to the people of Uttar Pradesh to vote for the Samajwadi Party as he saw a wave in its favour.