RAMPUR:

(SP) leader

has threatened to boycott 2019

elections over demolition of his illegally-constructed ‘Urdu Gate’ and shifting of Unani Hospital inside the Madrassa-I-Aliya building, which was occupied by his Trust.

"

magistrate (DM) Anjaney Kumar Singh is creating fear among minority community members and SP workers. SP supremo

has been informed,” Khan said.

“The state government and local officials are responsible for the volatile situation in Rampur. They have created a Jammu and Kashmir-like situation here. So, how can we expect impartial election in this kind of an environment?” Azam Khan asked.

On Thursday evening, Azam Khan had called a meeting of SP workers. His son, Abdullah Azam from Swar-Tanda Vidhan Sabha, and Naseer Ahmad, a member of Chamraua Vidhan Sabha, along with other MLAs, were present on the occasion.

Rampur DM commented, “We have not initiated action against any institution. All these allegations levelled by Azam Khan against the authorities are false and baseless. The gate was demolished because it was illegally constructed. Possession of the government-owned guest house and the power house station was taken because it is a public property. And to preserve the centuries-old Islamic culture, the Unani Hospital was again brought into the building of Madrassa-I-Aliya.”

On Khan’s allegations of creating an atmosphere of fear ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the DM, added, “He (Azam Khan) is giving a political statement and we will not respond to it. Even the Election Commission has directed us that all public interest works should not be stopped during the polls.”

BJP state spokesperson, Chandra Mohan, said, “Azam Khan is always into politics of ‘blackmailing’. Now, once again he is attacking the government and local officials, only to divert attention from his past deeds.”