Ban animal slaughter whether it is illegal or legal: Azam Khan

Rampur: Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Friday took a dig at the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's move of sealing the illegal slaughterhouses across Uttar Pradesh, saying that we have been demanding for a complete ban on animal slaughter, whether it is illegal or legal, for years.

Talking to the media persons, the ex-UP cabinet minister said, "BJP is shutting down the illegal slaughterhouses in the state, but we have been fighting for a complete ban on animal killing in the, irrespective of legal or illegal."

"BJP leader Sangeet Som owns a slaughterhouse and no one has stopped him from doing so," he alleged.

Azam also took a dig at newly appointed Uttar Pradesh minister Mohsin Raza, who reprimanded the officials for not removing the SP leader's picture from his office.

Also Read: Yogi government seals three illegal slaughterhouses in Agra

"I am still the chairman of Hajj committee and will continue at the post for next two years. I was unanimously elected for the honourable designation. No political party had nominated or favoured me to get the post. I cannot be removed and if anyone tries, I will knock at the court's door to get relief," he said.

On being asked about SP leader and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's younger daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav's meeting with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said that there was nothing new in that.

Azam Khan alleged that the people who get arrested by the anti-Romeo force of the UP Police are being released for bribe.

He praised CM Adityanath's move of paying surprise visits to police stations in Lucknow, but pointed out that he was doing so out of his desire for publicity. He advised the UP CM to visit the police stations of other districts too, as UP is a very big state.