The matter is decades old. After becoming the Chief Minister in 2012, Akhilesh Yadav was trying to remove the stain of being a mafia-criminal lover on the SP’s hem.
Along with keeping distance from Mafia Mukhtar and his family, he had also made up his mind to distance himself from Atiq Ahmed. He wanted to give a clear message to the opposition parties and the public that the Samajwadi Party of his era is now new.
There is no place for criminals in it. In this episode, Akhilesh Yadav, who came to the public meeting held in Naini before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, behaved with Atiq on stage in such a way that he became completely uncomfortable.
Ateeq tried twice to say something in Akhilesh’s ear and hold his hand, but Akhilesh shook his hand. Even during his address, he kept shying away from taking Atiq’s name. After this meeting, the distance between SP and Ateeq increased in the political corridor. SP’s doors were also closed forever for Atiq.