The Uttar Pradesh police registered an FIR against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan for his “underwear jibe,” on Monday, 15 April, which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged was made against actor-turned-politician Jaya Prada, who is fighting the Lok Sabha polls from Rampur against Khan.
On 14 April, Khan claimed that his statement was aimed at a “person in Delhi,” and that he would not contest the elections if he was “proven guilty,” reported ANI.
Without naming the actor, who is fighting as a BJP candidate from Rampur, Khan told the gathering in an election rally “... you got represented (by her) for 10 years. (aapne das saal apna pratinidhitwa karwaya).”
“People of Rampur, people of Uttar Pradesh and people of India, it took you 17 years to understand her reality. But, I could recognise it in 17 days that she wears a khaki underwear, (Rampur waalo, Uttar Pradesh waalo, Hindustan waalo, usski asliyat samajhne mein aapko 17 baras lag gaye. Main 17 dinon mein pehchaan gaya ki inke neeche kaa jo underwear hai, woh khaki rang kaa hai),” said Khan.
‘Azam Khan Must Not Fight Elections’
Reacting to Khan’s comment, Prada said he must not be allowed to contest elections.
“He shouldn’t be allowed to contest elections. Because if this man wins, what will happen to democracy? There’ll be no place for women in society. Where will we go? Should I die, then you’ll be satisfied? You think that I’ll get scared and leave Rampur? But I won’t leave.”Jaya Prada, BJP leader
Khan Clarifies Comment
Speaking to ANI, Khan claimed that he was “referring to a person” in Delhi and that his comment was not a veiled attack at Prada.
“I was referring to a person in Delhi who is unwell, who had said, ‘I came with 150 rifles and I would have shot Azam if I had seen him.’ Talking about him, I said, it took a long time to know people and later it was found that he was wearing RSS shorts.”Azam Khan, SP leader
Obnoxious, Shameful Remark: BJP
The video of Khan's purported speech was also doing the rounds on various social media platform.
Construing Khan's remark as having made against Jaya Prada, BJP's state unit spokesperson Chandramohan said, “It's a very obnoxious and shameful remark.”
“The level of politics cannot fall lower than this. This remark by Azam Khan reveals the actual face of the Samajwadi Party in which he is expressing his real thoughts about women oblivious of all dignity,” said Chandramohan.
The BJP also asked BSP supremo Mayawati to make her stand clear on “this indecent remark against Jaya Prada.”
NCW Slaps a Show Cause Notice on Khan
National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma too construed Khan's remarks as having been made against the actor and termed the same as “extremely disgraceful”.
She said the women panel will be sending a show cause notice to Khan.
“We are also writing to EC to take strict action against him because he has to learn this lesson now. It’s high time, he has to stop this. Women are not sex objects. I think, women voters should vote against such kind of people who are treating women in such way.”Rekha Sharma, NCW Chairperson
Khan’s Controversial Comments Against IAS Officers
Following the controversial comments, Khan, during his campaign said asked people to not be afraid of collectors and that he will get them to “clean Mayawati’s footear.”
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