Barq praised BSP chief Mayawati and her government for their sympathetic attitude towards Muslims and initiating work for the community’s welfare. Along with Barq, a former congress MLA from Rampur Afroz Ali also joined the BSP.

Announcing his decision to join the BSP, Barq, who represents Moradabad in the present Lok Sabha, alleged Mulayam of betraying Muslims to play the Hindu card.

“The credit of Mulayam and his party’s success goes to Muslims, but he has now alienated the community after using it. Now he is trying to play the Hinudutva card but he does not know that Yadavs are merely 7 per cent whereas there are 27 per cent Muslims, who have now lost faith in Mulayam,” Barq told mediapersons.

He also alleged that it was party general secretary Amar Singh, who was in fact running the party.

Holding Kalyan Singh solely responsible for the demolition of Babri Masjid, Barq had earlier openly criticised Mulayam for the decision to ally with the former BJP leader and had also blamed him of drifting away from SP’s secular ideology. “Kalyan had always maintained that he was proud to be instrumental in the demolition of Babri Masjid and therefore Muslims cannot accept this new alliance at any cost,” Barq had said.

Incidentally, at that time he had said that he would not leave party but would protest the decision of the party leadership by staying within the organisation.

To emphasise his contention, Barq quoted other Muslim leaders in the party, including Salim Sherwani and Azam Khan, for their anger against Mulayam’s decision to join hands with Kalyan.