Atiq Ahmed along with five other criminal politicians was released from jail temporarily in 2008 claiming their votes were crucial to save the UPA government as well as to save India’s civil nuclear deal with the US.
A no-confidence motion was signed against the Manmohan Singh dispensation with UPA government and the nuclear deal at stake.
Atiq Ahmed, a Lok Sabha member for Allahabad’s (now Prayagraj) Phulpur seat and a member of the Samajwadi Party at the time, was one of these six lawmakers who combined had over 100 criminal cases against them.
When Atiq Ahmed saved the UPA
A book titled “Baahubalis of Indian Politics: From Bullet to Ballot” by Rajesh Singh mentions how Atiq had the distinction as he was credited for saving the UPA government from the fall.
“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,” Singh writes in his book.
“Forty-eight hours before the vote and with little fanfare, the government furloughed six of the nation’s most prominent suspected lawbreakers — collectively facing over 100 cases of kidnapping, murder, extortion, arson and more — so that they could fulfil their constitutional duties as lawmakers,” the book states.
“One among them was Ateeq Ahmed, a Samajwadi Party lawmaker from Uttar Pradesh, with a conspicuous handlebar moustache and a penchant for safari suits. He dutifully cast his precious vote, no doubt in favour of the beleaguered UPA. The don had, by then, established himself in both politics and crime,” according to the book.
Atiq Ahmed shot dead
Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf Ahmed were killed on Saturday night in Prayagraj. Three people have been arrested for shooting Atiq and his brother while they were being taken for medical;. The three men had disguised as journalist. They were shot dead in full view of the camera.
“In accordance with a mandatory legal requirement, Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf were brought to the hospital for a medical examination. According to preliminary information, three men posing as journalists approached them and opened fire. Ahmad and Ashraf were killed in the attack. The attackers have been held and are being questioned,” Prayagraj Police Commissioner Ramit Sharma said.
Also read: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge writes to PM Modi, demands Centre to release Caste Census
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER
