Most slaughter houses in UP are run by Hindus, says Azam Khan

In an exclusive interview to Aaj Tak's Seedhi Baat, senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has alleged that President Pranab Mukherjee communicated his displeasure about the kind of statements being made post the Dadri incident to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that is what compelled the PM to issue a statement of condemnation.

Speaking to Aaj Tak in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, Azam said that the PM made three provocative statements on Thursday but after the President sent word of displeasure, Modi was forced to change his tune and make an appeal for communal harmony in his final speech at Navada. In a bid to calm down the communal tempers rising across the country, Azam hit out at independent J&K MLA Engineer Rashid for throwing a beef party in Srinagar. He said, "In a country as diverse as India, one has to be considerate of the feelings of members of other communities.

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BJP MLAs slapping Rashid was wrong but it was also wrong of Rashid to provoke Hindus by throwing a beef party."

Azam called for a ban on beef exports, saying if Modi is keen on protecting the cow he should walk the talk and ban beef exports. He also said that he has proof of BJP leaders having stakes in slaughter houses in UP, adding that beef exports were rising under Modi's rule and while BJP is seeking votes in the name of protecting the cow, the party is doing precious little to actually implement.

Khan alleged that it is a misconception that only Muslims kill cows because data shows that most abattoirs are run by Hindus. Khan also accused Modi of shedding copious tears for his mother at the Facebook office in California, saying, "If Modi is so fond of his mother, why has he left her to fend for herself?"

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Justifying his statement of comparing Dadri to Babri, Azam said that it's not just the killing but the message that was being sent to the minority community. He said it's unfair to blame the police for failing to protect law and order in UP, because a group of cops can do little before a violent mob.

Khan then took on the RSS alleging that elements of the Sangh Parivar are deliberately vitiating the communal atmosphere. Khan said the ASAP government had not been able to act against hot heads like Yogi Adityanath, Sadhvi Prachi and Sakshi Maharaj because their inflammatory statements were made outside UP. Khan also claimed that it was common knowledge that Owaisi was a plant of the BJP and RSS.

However, Khan said that he would not campaign for the SP in Bihar because his priority is to ensure the victory of secular forces in the state elections.