Lucknow: Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has declined the ‘Y’ category security offered by the Uttar Pradesh government, saying he would not accept it without an official written order.
Expressing strong skepticism, Khan said, “I am a chicken-thief, a goat-thief, and I have a 21-year sentence, so how am I getting security? I don't trust the people in uniform.” He questioned why he had been allotted only ‘Y’ category protection while some of his political rivals, including first-time MLAs, had been given ‘Z’ category security with Central Force commandos.
The veteran leader said the absence of formal documentation made him doubt the legitimacy of the security arrangement.
Khan also referred to his financial difficulties, remarking that he could not even afford a car for the security personnel. With characteristic sarcasm, he added that if any unfortunate incident were to occur, the Assembly would only offer condolences and say I “was a good man”.