A day after playing the peacemaker, senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan said he was no longer in a position to play the same role while blaming Amar Singh for the turn of events in the party on Sunday. In an interview to Rohini Singh and Vasudha Venugopal, he said things wouldn’t have come to such a pass had Amar Singh resigned from the Rajya Sabha. Edited excerpts:
How do you explain Sunday’s happenings, just a day after the two factions in SP appeared to have reached a truce?
There was only one agenda in front of me — to get Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav’s suspension revoked, which I managed to do. Baaki zimmedaari un logon ki hai jinka expulsion revoke hua thha ki unko kya karna hai (It was up to those whose expulsion was revoked to decide what to do next). Yeh unki zimmedaari thhi. Aur ismein kuchh alag hona thha to mashvare ki zaroorat thhi (If they wanted to part ways, they should have sought some advice). I don’t think any consultation took place.
Do you think this could have been averted?
Whatever has happened today, there is only one name (Amar Singh) behind it. It is that evil force because of which the family and the party have split. I had explained this to the whole party — Netaji (Mulayam Singh) and Shivpal — at that time that this was wrong. But they didn’t listen to me. I have had a long association with the party. I put forward my point, stick to it and if it is not considered I don’t revolt.
So who is SP’s national president?
Maine aapse kaha thha,main na inhe chhodh sakta hun na unhe (I had told you I can’t leave either of the two sides). I have left the decision to God.
Did you speak to the CM and Mulayam after the latest turn of events?
I spoke to both today (Sunday).
What did you say to them?
Maine halki phulki koshish dono taraf se ki hai (I have tried to talk a bit to both sides). But I don’t find myself in that position now to strongly put forward my point with anyone. The issues in front of me yesterday (Saturday) were different and were resolved. Today the issues are different.
Amar Singh has said he is being wrongly blamed for the family feud…
There is no proof of God — no one has seen him. But there is faith there is a supreme being. In this case there are situations, secret recordings and tapes which prove his role. Whatever is happening today itself is evidence. He should himself wonder why he is so hated. I had told him that if he really wants the family and the party to remain united he should resign from the Rajya Sabha. Yeh kehte hain ki main hamdard hoon, parivar ka shubhchintak hoon, Mulayamwadi hoon (He says he is a Mulayam Singh acolyte and a well-wisher of the family). Aapne (Amar) jo aisa kiya hota (resigned from RS) to aaj yeh hota hi nahin.
Have you spoken to Mulayam Singh Yadav about this?
When he (Amar) was being taken back I made a lot of effort to make Netaji understand. But it didn’t work. How do you see the future of SP? Kaam to bahut hua hai (The SP government has done a lot of work). But if because of some technical reasons there is difficulty for the party, then I can’t say anything. But the Akhilesh government has done a lot of work.
Do you think this fight will benefit the BJP or the BSP?
Both will try to cash in on it. They should do it. They are our opposition. They will try to highlight our weaknesses.
Will you attend the meeting called by Mulayam on January 5?
A lot of things might change before then. It’s too early to speak about it.
Will you try to broker peace again?
Main to zabardasti ka panch thha (I played a peacemaker on my own). The issue that had to be resolved yesterday was resolved. Dono baap bete pesh aaye thhe bahut pyaar se (Both the father and the son were very cordial with me).
Akhilesh Yadav has said Mulayam Singh will always remain his father…
(Interrupts) Yeh to kudrati rishte hain. Isko kaise inkaar kar sakte hain.
The CM said he did all this to protect his family and party…
Parivaar pe faisla lene ka poora adhikaar hai unka (He has every right to take a decision regarding his family). As far as the party is concerned, he is the CM of the state. Netaji ne apni rajnaitik virasat unko saunpi thhi (Netaji had chosen him as his political heir). He can think best for the party. How can the situation be made better? A solution acceptable to both should be worked out…
Will you try to help find a solution?
First, we need to understand what the parties concerned want.
How do you explain Sunday’s happenings, just a day after the two factions in SP appeared to have reached a truce?
There was only one agenda in front of me — to get Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav’s suspension revoked, which I managed to do. Baaki zimmedaari un logon ki hai jinka expulsion revoke hua thha ki unko kya karna hai (It was up to those whose expulsion was revoked to decide what to do next). Yeh unki zimmedaari thhi. Aur ismein kuchh alag hona thha to mashvare ki zaroorat thhi (If they wanted to part ways, they should have sought some advice). I don’t think any consultation took place.
Do you think this could have been averted?
Whatever has happened today, there is only one name (Amar Singh) behind it. It is that evil force because of which the family and the party have split. I had explained this to the whole party — Netaji (Mulayam Singh) and Shivpal — at that time that this was wrong. But they didn’t listen to me. I have had a long association with the party. I put forward my point, stick to it and if it is not considered I don’t revolt.
So who is SP’s national president?
Maine aapse kaha thha,main na inhe chhodh sakta hun na unhe (I had told you I can’t leave either of the two sides). I have left the decision to God.
Did you speak to the CM and Mulayam after the latest turn of events?
I spoke to both today (Sunday).
What did you say to them?
Maine halki phulki koshish dono taraf se ki hai (I have tried to talk a bit to both sides). But I don’t find myself in that position now to strongly put forward my point with anyone. The issues in front of me yesterday (Saturday) were different and were resolved. Today the issues are different.
Amar Singh has said he is being wrongly blamed for the family feud…
There is no proof of God — no one has seen him. But there is faith there is a supreme being. In this case there are situations, secret recordings and tapes which prove his role. Whatever is happening today itself is evidence. He should himself wonder why he is so hated. I had told him that if he really wants the family and the party to remain united he should resign from the Rajya Sabha. Yeh kehte hain ki main hamdard hoon, parivar ka shubhchintak hoon, Mulayamwadi hoon (He says he is a Mulayam Singh acolyte and a well-wisher of the family). Aapne (Amar) jo aisa kiya hota (resigned from RS) to aaj yeh hota hi nahin.
Have you spoken to Mulayam Singh Yadav about this?
When he (Amar) was being taken back I made a lot of effort to make Netaji understand. But it didn’t work. How do you see the future of SP? Kaam to bahut hua hai (The SP government has done a lot of work). But if because of some technical reasons there is difficulty for the party, then I can’t say anything. But the Akhilesh government has done a lot of work.
Do you think this fight will benefit the BJP or the BSP?
Both will try to cash in on it. They should do it. They are our opposition. They will try to highlight our weaknesses.
Will you attend the meeting called by Mulayam on January 5?
A lot of things might change before then. It’s too early to speak about it.
Will you try to broker peace again?
Main to zabardasti ka panch thha (I played a peacemaker on my own). The issue that had to be resolved yesterday was resolved. Dono baap bete pesh aaye thhe bahut pyaar se (Both the father and the son were very cordial with me).
Akhilesh Yadav has said Mulayam Singh will always remain his father…
(Interrupts) Yeh to kudrati rishte hain. Isko kaise inkaar kar sakte hain.
The CM said he did all this to protect his family and party…
Parivaar pe faisla lene ka poora adhikaar hai unka (He has every right to take a decision regarding his family). As far as the party is concerned, he is the CM of the state. Netaji ne apni rajnaitik virasat unko saunpi thhi (Netaji had chosen him as his political heir). He can think best for the party. How can the situation be made better? A solution acceptable to both should be worked out…
Will you try to help find a solution?
First, we need to understand what the parties concerned want.
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