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Tribune News Service
Lucknow, July 27
Problems appear to be compounding for Samajwadi Party Rampur MP Azam Khan as Shahabad police on Saturday filed a chargesheet against him for his alleged derogatory remarks against his political opponent Jaya Prada during the Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking at an election meeting in Rampur on April 14, without taking the name of two-time Samajwadi Party MP from Rampur Jaya Prada, Azam Khan said while it took 17 years for the people to make out the truth, he had discovered within 17 days that the underwear beneath was ‘khakhi’.
On the same day, the Rampur administration lodged an FIR against him under IPC Section 509 (word gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act (Promoting enmity between classes in connection with election).
Taking cognisance of the matter, the Election Commission had prevented Azam Khan from campaigning or speaking to the media for 72 hours. The chargesheet comes while the Lok Sabha is seeking his unconditional apology for his sexist remarks against deputy Speaker Rama Devi.
Trouble further mounted for Khan as the Rampur administration recently suspended the 30-year lease of about seven hectares of land with his Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. Two days ago, the Rampur SDM court gave orders to remove the university gate built on PWD land within 15 days. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 3.27 crore on university chancellor Azam Khan.
Members in the Lok Sabha yesterday spoke in one voice condemning Khan for his sexist remarks and demanded that he should apologise or else be suspended from the House.
During zero hour, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said Khan had breached the privilege of the House. Had he been outside Parliament, he would have faced a police case.
Rama Devi had yesterday insisted that Khan’s remarks be expunged, while he kept insisting that his words were meant for a "sister whom he loved". Several other women MPs expressed unhappiness over the remarks and demanded that Speaker take strict action against him.
‘Khaki underwear’ jibe
I brought her (Jaya Prada) to Rampur. You are a witness that I did not allow anyone to touch her body. It took you 17 years to identify her real face but I got to know in 17 days that she wears khaki underwear. — Azam Khan, SP Rampur MP
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