Lucknow: Samajwadi Party's candidate from Sultanpur for the Lok Sabha Polls, Ateeq Ahmad, was the first person to be booked under the 'Gangster Act' in Uttar Pradesh and has several cases of dacoity, murder, extortion and fraud against him, police records showed.
Ahmad was expelled from the party five years back. He had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha polls in 2009 on Apna Dal ticket from Pratapgarh in the state.
His selection replaces Shakeel Ahmad, who was previously announced as the party's candidate.
The re-entry of Ateeq Ahmad is being seen in political circles "as the end of the honest and clean politics credo" propagated by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in the run up to the 2012 state assembly polls when the party denied ticket to mafia don turned politician D.P. Yadav.
"It is more evident now that the SP has realized that it will fare badly in the 2014 polls and wants to piggy back on criminals to shore up its sagging fortunes," Vijay Bahadur Pathak, state spokesman of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said.
The Samajwadi Party also denied that Ateeq Ahmad was a criminal.
Party spokesman and Prison Minister Rajendra Chowdhary said that so far no charge had been proved against Ahmad.
"No charge has been proved in the court of law against Ateeq (Ahmad). His entry will strengthen the party," he said. Police records, however, show Ahmad in different light.
The Gangster Act was slapped on him in 1986, but the first case against him was filed by police when he was barely 19.
There are now 117 cases against him. Among other charges, the SP candidate from Sultanpur faces serious charges like murder, attempt to kill, land grabbing, extortion and rioting.
Police officials say his 'gang' has more than 140 members.
Politically, however, his re-entry into the SP fold is being seen through the prism of minority vote bank and party's desperate attempt to hold on to the fast loosing grip on Muslims.
"The party hopes to gain from Ateeq Ahmad both in terms of muscle power and Muslim votes," a senior SP leader said.
Comments
| Quick linksNews
National
International
Regional
Politics
Education & Career
Business
Science & Technology
Health
Views & Analysis
The Funny Side
© 2012 Awaz Multimedia & Publications. All rights reserved.
Why is rape in Goa different from rape in Muzaffarnagar?Among the refugees were scores of women, raped in front of their parents and children and who are still waiting for the wheels of justice to move at all. In Tarun's case there is that uncertainty as to what really happened. Here is rape with as many witnesses . .... More
Also Read: Two months on, peace still eludes Muzaffarnagar
South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Mandela dies at 95Mandela had been receiving intense home-based medical care for a lung infection after three months in hospital. He led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after having spent 27 years in prison, BBC reported...... More
Also Read: Gandhian Nelson Mandela: A hero who battled apartheid
The Hindutva camp is aware that the idea of the left-right, secular-communal divide between the two towering personalities of the independence movement is a part of the Indian mindset and that it will be unrealistic to try to ignore.... More
Mehmoodur Rehman committee ReportMehmoodur Rehman committee strengthens Muslim claim on Ismail Yusuf land
"We are fighting with the government as well as in court for the possession of Ismail Yusuf College and its adjoining land since last fifty years. After the recommendation made by Dr. Mehmoodur Rehman committee we are sure the .... More
Also Read: Muslim women group demands ban on 'Triple Talaq in one sitting'
