Congress sympathises with Azam Khan

Despite reaching out to the Samajwadi Party, the Congress on Thursday made no attempt to hide its sympathy for rebel SP leader Azam Khan, who had declared an open war against his own party candidate from Rampur Jaya Prada.

"Is the manner in which he (Azam) has to suffer appropriate? He was the person who worked to establish the SP brick by brick," Digvijay Singh said when reminded about SP general secretary Amar Singh's attack on him after he had spoken favourably of Khan earlier.

Amar Singh had said that the All India Congress Committee leader should stay "within limits" and rather focus on the plight of his own party leaders like Arjun Singh.

"I have the pain of both Azam Khan and Arjun Singh," the Congress leader said when reminded of Amar Singh's statement.

The Congress leader at the same time did not find any fault with Amar Singh's attack on him.

"Amar Singh said the right thing that I should remain in my limits," Singh said adding, "I don't mind. I quite welcome all his tirade against me."

Asked whether the issue came up during his talks with Amar Singh on Thursday when he called him up, the Congress leader said, "He did mention something about Rampur, I said it is his problem not mine."