Meraj Khalid Noor at the news meet in Patna on Friday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Meraj Khalid Noor, who resembles late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden will take on Narendra Modi in Varanasi.

Noor, the president of Rashtriya Awami Movement, announced this on Friday while interacting with mediapersons after he inaugurated the party’s new office on Fraser Road.

“I have decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections against Narendra Modi from Varanasi. I would file the nomination papers on April 23. Modi is Ravan and is spreading hate across the nation. As a true Indian, I will not allow him to impure the water of the Ganga,” said Noor.

He came in the limelight between 2004 and 2009 when RJD chief Lalu Prasad and the LJP’s Ram Vilas Paswan used him to woo Muslims during election rallies. On Friday, he accused both politicians of using him to appease and woo the community.

Noor is yet to get confirmation from any political party offering him a ticket to contest the elections from Varanasi. “I am in talks with two-three political parties. If I do not get their support, I will contest as an Independent candidate,” he added.

When The Telegraph asked if he was contesting from the hot seat (Varanasi) just for publicity, Noor said: ”I am not doing this to gain any publicity. I am disappointed that Mukhtar Ansari has opted out of the Varanasi poll ring. It would send a wrong message. Someone should stand and fight against hardliners like Narendra Modi.”

On his resemblance to Osama bin Laden, Noor said he does not possess leadership qualities like the late al-Qaeda chief. He did not praise Laden either.