Azam, Shia cleric face-off creates trouble for Akhilesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is being widely criticised for failing to curb surging sexual crimes and recurring communal violence in the state, now has a new problem in his party fold in the shape of senior SP leader Azam Khan.

Khan was reported to be sulking after the state government sided with renowned Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Javaad, with whom he has had a long-running feud over appointments in the Shia Waqf board.

The minister had written several letters to Akhilesh, demanding a CBI probe into Javaad’s alleged sale of Waqf board properties. Khan had even released the letters at a press conference. 

Only recently, Shia Muslims held a demonstration in protest against the alleged corruption in the nominations of Shia Waqf Board members. Their attempts to march to Azam’s house had turned violent and the protesters clashed with the police, leaving one person dead and scores injured.

Javaad, who had led the demonstrators, had alleged that Khan wanted to pack the Waqf board with his “stooges”, many of whom were accused of corrupt practices. The state government later deferred the Waqf board polls, angering Khan who had vehemently denied the allegations of corruption.