Lucknow: UP Congress Committee president Ajay Rai staged a sit-in outside Sitapur jail as prison authorities denied him permission to meet senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan.Accusing the ruling BJP government of harassing and settling political scores with Azam Khan and his family, Rai had on Wednesday announced that he would go to meet the former minister on humanitarian grounds.On Thursday, Rai reached Sitapur at 1.15 pm along with scores of party workers. When he approached the authorities to let him meet Azam Khan, he was apprised that the SP leader was not willing to see him. Congress party has stood by anyone who has faced injustice and atrocities at the hands of the BJP, but I came here because I wanted to share his pain and tell him that the dawn always follows the darkest nights. However, the BJP government has prevented me from doing my humanitarian duty, Rai told TOI. Party spokesperson Anshu Awasthi claimed that UPCC chiefs verbal request to talk to Azam Khan on phone was also declined. He said that Rai wanted to send a basket of fruits for Khan, which was also denied.Insiders said that the Congress leadership in Sitapur was told by the officials in district administration that Rai will not be allowed to meet Khan, but he still continued with his plan. Whether I get permission or not, I will go ahead with my plan, Rai had told TOI on Wednesday.Rais newfound concern for Azam left political circles abuzz with speculation. This was posturing in the wake of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Congress is giving a message to the minority community which forms 19% of the electorate in UP, said a political commentator.Another pointed out that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and thereafter Ajai Rai had recently paid a visit to the house of BSP MP Danish Ali after he was subjected to abusive language by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri during a debate on the Womens Reservation Bill in Parliament.Almost 17 months after being released from jail, Azam Khan was again lodged in Sitapur jail on October 22. An MP/MLA court of Rampur convicted Azam Khan, his wife Tazeen Fatima and son Abdulla Azam in a 2019 fake birth certificate case and sentenced them to seven years in jail last week.We also published the following articles recentlyAzam Khan in Sitapur jail, says anything can happen to himSenior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and his son, Abdullah Azam, have been lodged in separate jails following their convictions in fake birth certificate cases. Azam Khan, a former MP, expressed concerns for his safety, saying that anything could happen to him and his son, including being killed in an encounter. The two were shifted to Sitapur and Hardoi jails after being sentenced to seven years in jail. Tazeen, Azam Khans wife, will remain in Rampur district jail. This is not the first time Azam Khan has been incarcerated, as he was previously released in May 2022 after getting bail from the Supreme Court.UP Congress chief Ajay Rais plan to meet jailed Azam Khan triggers fresh SP-Congress duelThe Congress Partys chief in Uttar Pradesh, Ajay Rai, is set to visit jailed Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan, causing tension between the two parties. Khan, a prominent Muslim face for the SP, was sentenced to seven years in prison in a fake marksheet case. The move by the Congress Party is seen as an attempt to reach out to Muslims and Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the western region where Khan and his family have influence. The SP has reacted strongly to the visit, calling it an election gimmick. Analysts believe the SP used the recent alliance talks in Madhya Pradesh to gauge the Congress Partys commitment for the 2024 polls.Ajay Rai to visit Azam in jail todayAmid tensions with the Samajwadi Party, UP Congress Committee President Ajay Rai has announced that he will visit Sitapur Jail to meet SP founder Azam Khan. Rai stated that the purpose of the visit is to express solidarity with Khan, who is facing harassment from the BJP government. Rai claimed that the visit is purely humanitarian and not politically motivated. However, sources have revealed that Rais request to visit Khan has been denied by jail authorities. Political commentators believe the visit is a messaging tactic to gain minority votes and connect with Muslims in UP.

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