No contact with AIMIM, will stay in Congress, says Arif Naseem Khan

Arif Naseem Khan. File pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Refuting the claims of leaving his party, Congress leader Mohammed Arif "Naseem" Khan thanked All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) for their offer and said that he will stay in Congress, reported news agency ANI.

Addressing a press conference today, Khan pointed out that he belongs to the Muslim community, which is asking him why no Muslim candidates have been announced by the party.

"Since independence, Congress gave equal opportunities to minorities and every caste. There is no question about me as an individual. I'm a leader of the Muslim community and Muslims are asking me why no seats have been given for Muslim candidates. So what I told them, is a big question for me. I thank AIMIM for their offer but I will not accept that, no contact with AIMIM. I'm with Congress and I will stay in Congress," he said, reported ANI.

"I am not saying anything about leadership. I only speak on what my community thinks. My leaders are Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. But those who are on the ground must change their perspective and think about us too," Khan added, reported ANI.

Further, speaking on Varsha Gaikwad, whose candidature was announced yesterday from Mumbai North Central, Mohammed Arif said that he considers Varsha as his sister and has no anger for her.

"I have responsibilities for my religion, and people are angry with this decision. So I resigned from the star campaigner post," he said.

Earlier, in the letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Khan thanked him for naming him as one of the star campaigners for the polls but said he wouldn't campaign any further for the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

The MVA, which was previously the ruling combine in Maharashtra, comprises the Congress, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar).

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Muslim Voter Council of India also wrote to Kharge, Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Chandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray, expressing their 'disappointment' over the decision of not fielding Muslim candidates in the Lok Sabha elections.

(With inputs from ANI)