Lakshman embarrasses CPM again, praises Didi

The leader, CPM’s face during the Nandigram movement in 2007 has been at loggerheads with the party’s state leadership after an inquiry commission was initiated to look into allegations of corruption of party post. Seth had last month expressed his desire to quit from all party posts.

Uncle of dead ‘HuJI operative’ to contest from Jaunpur

Zaheer Alam Falahi, 62, uncle of an alleged HuJI operative, Khalid Mujahid, who died under mysterious circumstances while being taken to jail last year, will be contesting from Jaunpur on a Welfare Party of India ticket.

A native of Madiyahun area in Jaunpur, Falahi has sought support from organisations fighting for “innocents” lodged in jails on terror cases. One such outfit, Rihai Manch, has declared support for him. Falahi, who is the guardian of Khalid’s family, had earlier returned the state government’s financial grant of Rs 6 lakh.

He said: “The SP government has failed to fullfil its promise which they made to Muslims in their manifesto. I will fight for innocent Muslims who are lodged in terror cases. The SP government has failed to release them who were falsely implicated in the case. I have sought support from organisations such as National Loktantrik Party, Ulema Council and Rihai Manch.”

Khalid died while being brought to Lucknow jail after appearing in a court hearing in Faizabad on May 18 last year. He was arrested in Barabanki on December 22, 2007 in connection with the blasts in Lucknow and Faizabad in November the same year. ENS