Describing Azam Khan as a secular leader, ruling Samajwadi Party appealed to Election Commission (EC) to reconsider imposing ban on the leader from holding public meetings in Uttar Pradesh.
"Azam Khan is a secular leader... He is being liked by Hindus also while BJP leader Amit Shah is headmaster of communalism... Treating Khan and Shah on the same barometer is not justified," SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury told PTI.
"Khan is a secular leader and worked for Hindu-Muslim unity... EC should work in unbiased manner and reconsider the decision," Chowdhury said.
The EC today barred Khan and Shah from holding public meetings, processions or roadshows in UP and asked authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against them.