In this general election, India has been witnessing a whole range of desperate attempts from various political parties to garner steam for their electoral plans. However, in a quest for votes, ethics and decorum seem to have been thrown out of the window. Uttar Pradesh, which has always been a hot spot for rugged politics, has outdone past wrongs, and presented before us incidents, that are not only loathsome, but are huge black spots of shame on Indian politics.
Azam Khan, senior Samajwadi party leader and close aide of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, neglecting every moral principle has crossed all limits with his comments in an election rally. On the auspicious day of the anniversary of Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, he had made utter shameful comments, in an apparent reference to Jaya Prada, who is challenging him from Rampur parliamentary constituency.
“Jisko hum ungli pakadkar Rampur laaye, aapne 10 saal jinse apna pratinidhitva karaya…Uski asliyat samajhne mein aapko 17 baras lage, main 17 din mein pehchan gaya ki inke niche ka underwear khaki rang ka hai”
(Whom we brought to Rampur, for 10 years we made (her) represent us…to understand (her) reality you took 17 years, but I understood in 17 days that her underwear is Khaki in color)
#WATCH Azam Khan says in Rampur(in apparent reference to jaya prada), "Jisko hum ungli pakadkar Rampur laaye, aapne 10 saal jinse apna pratinidhitva karaya…Uski asliyat samajhne mein aapko 17 baras lage,main 17 din mein pehchan gaya ki inke niche ka underwear khaki rang ka hai" pic.twitter.com/JwIlcth4uQ
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 14, 2019
Azam Khan, who is thought to have a strong hold on Muslim Votes in western Uttar Pradesh, was also joined by Samajwadi Party Chief and Ex-Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav. Akhilesh Yadav, after hearing these deplorable comments, was busy savoring applause in the rally. Keeping mum on comments of this nature speaks lengths about Akhilesh Yadav’s desperation to save his political ground, which makes him equally responsible for the abominable act.
This shameful incident also raises questions on Mayawati and Ajit Singh who are part of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ alliance to counter the rising influence of the BJP. Mayawati, who herself had been a Victim of Samajwadi party’s derogatory tactics, seemed to have made peace with the erstwhile rival in an attempt sooth her electoral ambitions. Her silence surely gives an idea about what Uttar Pradesh women can expect from the ‘Mahagathbandhan’.
An FIR has also been registered against Azam Khan for his comments.
FIR has been registered against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan for his comment 'main 17 din mein pehchan gaya ki inke niche ka underwear khaki rang ka hai'. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/7srNhNoue2
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 15, 2019
#JustIn | FIR registered against Rampur Samajwadi Party candidate Azam Khan for his "khaki underwear" remarks pic.twitter.com/XgdqKLXGqf
— NDTV (@ndtv) April 15, 2019
Azam Khan, a very senior member of Samajwadi party, has been a serial offender in this respect and has been called out multiple times for similar incidents of making derogatory comments in public events.
Senior BJP Leader Sushma Swaraj had also called for SP patriarch Mulayam Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav intervention after this deplorable act.
मुलायम भाई – आप पितामह हैं समाजवादी पार्टी के. आपके सामने रामपुर में द्रौपदी का चीर हरण हो रहा हैं. आप भीष्म की तरह मौन साधने की गलती मत करिये. @yadavakhilesh Smt.Jaya Bhaduri, Mrs.Dimple Yadav.pic.twitter.com/FNO5fM4Hkc
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 15, 2019
National Commission of Women president Rekha Sharma, taking cognizance of the sordid comments, has said that the women panel will be sending Azam khan a show cause notice. Calling the comments “absolutely disgraceful”, she added that a request to bar Azam Khan from contesting the elections will also be sent to the Election Commission.
Absolutely disgraceful. #AazamKhan is always abusive and disrespectful towards women. @ncw will take Suo Moto and will send a notice to him. Will request #ElectionCommission to bar him from contesting elections. https://t.co/4SdNIUC3dk
— Rekha Sharma (@sharmarekha) April 14, 2019
BJP spokesperson and in charge of Rampur Lok Sabha seat, Chandramohan, also denouncing Azam Khan and his comments had said, “We are requesting the Election Commission to take cognizance. Khan said this in the presence of Akhilesh Yadav ji. He should tell what kind of politics he is doing. They should tell if dignity of women hold any importance to them or not. This is a serious matter.”
With Azam Khan stooping to the lowest, black clouds of doubts are hovering over future conduct of Samajwadi Party leaders in the remaining days of the election campaign and further. The Left-Liberal media taking note of Azam Khans minority status is also expected to damp down this otherwise well talked about issue of women’s dignity. However, Indians are no longer ready to accept these filthy attempts showing these politicians’ desperation, and are set to give a befitting reply to such leaders in the polls.
