UP minister raps Akhilesh Yadav for extending support to tainted Azam Khan

UP Minister Siddharth Nath Singh slammed former chief minister of UP Akhilesh Yadav for showing solidarity with Azam Khan against whom several cases have been filed by the state government.

New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Government on Friday criticized former chief minister and national president of the Samajwadi Party (SP) Akhilesh Yadav for showing solidarity with Azam Khan against whom several cases have been filed by the state government.

Interacting with the media persons here, minister Siddharth Nath Singh, who holds the charge of Khadi and village industry, textiles, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and NRI departments in the Yogi Adityanath government, said the former chief minister wants to stand with people with tainted past.

"Akhilesh Yadav wants to stand with the person who is accused of various wrongdoings and not with those who have got FIRs filed against him," he said, adding that it's for people to decide as they understand everything.

On being asked to comment on charges levelled by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi against the Yogi Adityanath government, he said she has no right to criticize the government as many of her family members were out on bail in relation to several cases.

The minister, however, refused to comment on former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Swami Chinmayanand, an accused in sexual harassment, saying he can't say anything on the matter as the same was sub judice.