Azam Khan accuses Congress of flaring up communal passion

Accusing the Congress of associating terrorism with religion, senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has alleged that the party is trying to flare up communal passion in the country.

"Congress has a communal past and it wants to flare up communal tension in the country by comparing RSS with SIMI and raising issues such as martyrdom of Hemant Karkare and Batla House encounter," Azam said while addressing a public meeting in Badaun district near here yesterday.

"Terrorism should not be associated with any religion as it can be dangerous for the country," he said.

Reacting sharply to Azam's remarks, Congress has demanded a response from SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"Mulayam should clear his stand on Azam's statement. After loosing their base, SP leaders have also lost their temper," Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh said.