Won’t accept post till govt starts probe into riots: Barelvi cleric

Raza heads Ittehad-e-Millat Council (IMC),which has a lone MLA — Shahzil Islam from Bhojipura in Bareilly. Raza claims he has entered into an agreement with the SP according to which IMC will not contest Lok Sabha elections but IMC candidates will be given the SP symbol for contesting the election. Shahzil Islam’s wife Ayesha Islam has already been given the SP ticket from Bareilly Lok Sabha seat.

“There is no use in my accepting the ministerial status post till Muslims,who were targetted in nearly 50 riots that occurred during the Akhilesh regime,get justice,” Raza said.

He said he had been trying to get an appointment with Mulayam but to no avail. “I want to tell him that there is a need for a probe into the riots,” Raza said. He has no plans to meet Akhilesh as it will not yield any result,he added.

“If they constitute the committee and take back my ministerial status,I will still be happy and support them in the Lok Sabha elections,” he said.

Raza said the BJP,which had objected to his appointment,was afraid of the investigation into the riots. “BJP leaders understand they will be exposed. So are opposing my appointment,” he said.