Opposition parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), have vehemently questioned the U.P. government’s move, claiming that it not only targets Azam Khan but also has broader implications for the Muslim community and children who benefit from the trust’s educational activities.
Radiance News
Lucknow, November 1: In a recent development, the Uttar Pradesh government has given the green light to a proposal to reclaim more than 41,000 square feet of land allocated to the Mohammed Ali Jauhar Trust, managed by Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former 10-time MLA Azam Khan. The decision to repossess the land, initially leased to the trust, has sparked controversy and allegations of injustice.
The land in question, spanning approximately 41,181 square feet, was granted to the trust in two government orders issued by the previous SP government in September 2006 and February 2007. This land, which belongs to the State Education Department, was leased to the trust for a 30-year term at a nominal annual rent of ₹100.
Opposition parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), have vehemently questioned the U.P. government’s move, claiming that it not only targets Azam Khan but also has broader implications for the Muslim community and children who benefit from the trust’s educational activities. The decision to repossess the land allocated to the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust raises concerns about the fairness and equity of the legal actions taken against Azam Khan.
Azam Khan, widely regarded as the Muslim face of the SP, has faced increased legal scrutiny since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in Uttar Pradesh. More than five dozen cases have been registered against him in recent years, and he was convicted in four cases over the last year.
Notably, in May 2023, he was acquitted in one of these cases. However, a previous conviction in October the previous year led to Azam Khan’s disqualification from the assembly, resulting in a by-election that was won by the BJP’s Akash Saxena.
