RAMPUR: Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan’s acerbic tongue has landed him in a soup yet again. The SP candidate from Rampur has been booked for his ‘Khaki underpant’ jibe at BJP rival Jaya Prada while addressing a rally in the constituency on Sunday.
The yesteryear screen siren and former SP leader, who is a two-time Rampur MP, is pitted against Azam on his turf this time.
While Khan has been booked under Section 509 of Indian Penal Code (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and Section 125 of People’s Representatives Act, the National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognizance of the matter and shot off a notice to the SP stalwart seeking his explanation over his incendiary remarks against actor-turned-neta.
The women’s panel is also considering moving the EC demanding that Azam’s candidature be withdrawn.
Addressing a rally in Rampur on Sunday, Azam said, “I brought her (Jaya Prada) to Rampur. You saw how I protected her and ensured that nobody dared touch her. She has sucked Rampur’s blood for 10 years. It might have taken you 17 years to see her real face, but I got to know in 17 days that she wears khaki underpants.”
His remark drew howls of protest not just from political rivals but all sections of the society. The BJP and Congress sought action against him.
Asked to respond to Azam’s remark in Moradabad on Monday, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed the former never once referred to the actor-turned-MP in his speech. Akhilesh said Azam referred to ‘someone else’ and the remark was meant to bring out that person’s ‘RSS link’.
“We Samajwadis never use derogatory words for our mothers and daughters,” the SP chief said.
Crossing the line
While Azam was booked for his alleged sexist remark, the National Commission for Women (NCW) took note of his remark and shot off a notice to the veteran SP leader, seeking an explanation.