It is a well-known fact that gangster Atiq Ahmed had political asylum but a lesser-known fact is that he was released along with other dreaded criminals to save the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government in 2008 when it faced a no-confidence motion.

Atiq Ahmed & other criminals rescue UPA

The book Baahubalis of Indian Politics: From Bullet to Ballot by Rajesh Singh highlights the role of six criminal politicians in saving the UPA government. In July 2008, the Manmohan Singh government was faced with a no-confidence motion over the Civil Nuclear deal with the United States. His government was 44 seats short of a simple majority to overcome the no-confidence motion.

“The UPA had 228 members in the Lok Sabha and was short of 44 seats for a simple majority to overcome the crisis of confidence. Prime Minister Singh, however, expressed confidence that he would survive. It soon became evident as to where that confidence came from,” wrote Rajesh Singh.

Six criminal politicians including Ahmed lodged in different jails across Bharat were temporarily released within 48 hours. They subsequently voted in favour of the UPA government thus saving the day for Congress and its allies. Ahmed was a Samajwadi Party (SP) MP (Member of Parliament) from Prayagraj’s (then Allahabad) Phulpur constituency. It must be pointed out that the six legislators had more than 100 criminal cases of kidnapping, murder, extortion, arson and others against their names.

However, Digital Sansad documents say that Ahmed voted against the motion in Lok Sabha 14 Session XIII dated July 22, 2008. Therefore, despite having been brought out to vote in favour of the UPA government, he voted against the motion.

Victims of Atiq Ahmed’s goondaism

“102 cases were filed against Atiq Ahmed, including those of threats, murder attempts, and kidnapping. The gangster act was brought against him a total of three times. Even while incarcerated in different jails in Uttar Pradesh, he held meetings and ran his criminal empire. The initial complaint was filed against him in 1979. A total of 54 cases have been heard so far at UP police stations”, notes OpIndia.

Jaishri Kushwaha is one of the victims of the gangster and exemplifies the kind of terror Hindus faced from him. She was engaged in a battle with Ahmed for more than three decades after he encroached on twelve bigha land belonging to the Kushwaha family. During this long-drawn battle, her husband was murdered, her brother was electrocuted, her son was shot dead and she was attacked 7 times.

Other locals have similar tales of terror to narrate. One of them told the media how two girls were gang-raped and five innocent persons including a rickshaw driver and a tailor were booked in the case instead of the actual culprits who were protected by Atiq and Ashraf. The incident occurred in the Muslim-majority Kareli area of Prayagraj. The victims were also Muslim girls. Such was his terror that the people of Prayagraj are relieved at Ahmed’s death.

“Hundreds of families have been impacted due to the goonda raj that Atiq wreaked on Prayagraj. Some lost their properties worth crores, while others lost their loved ones. Things turned worse during the administration of an SP government since no Police Station would even register an FIR against the don. Even if high-profile murder cases reached the courts, charges wouldn’t be framed against Atiq. At this point, it is also important to point out that a significant section of the minority population of Prayagraj, who were also tortured by Atiq, is relieved at his end”, a person who resided in Ahmed’s neighbourhood wrote in Swarajya Mag.

(Featured Image Source: OpIndia)