Azam Khan’s comments on Jaya Prada is reminiscent of insulting remarks on Mayawati

Uttar Pradesh has always been a witness to rugged politics over the past years, an optimum amount of jolts that makes the most populous Indian state a matter of importance for clever political strategy has also seen days, where political parties have surpassed all bounds of morality and ethics bringing shame to Indian political culture.

Samajwadi Party, which has been in the centre of UP politics since its formation has been the most notorious in this respect. Azam Khan, a founder member of Samajwadi Party is currently under fire for his derogatory comments on Jaya Prada, he made during an election event.

“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)

Akhilesh Yadav after hearing these deplorable comments was busy savoring applause in the rally. Sitting mum on comments of this nature speaks lengths about Akhilesh Yadav’s desperation and Samajwadi Party’s long culture of making such deplorable attempts.

Recent comments by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on his opposing candidate Jaya Prada are just a reiteration of party’s long history of misogyny and sexism.

SP and BSP who are now a part of the Mahagathbandhan in UP, irrespective of their dark and murky past have joined hands together taking note of their fast reducing political ground. However, SP was not short for taking aim at BSP supremo Mayawati when political compulsions were not in the picture.

In the run-up to the 2014 general elections SP candidate from Kairana parliamentary constituency, Imran Masood had made ignominious comments on BSP chief Mayawati, he had said that Mayawati had sat three times on Narendra Modi’s lap, adding to the shame he also commented that both Narendra Modi and Mayawati are unmarried and had said things which are not even appropriate to be reproduced on this or any other forum.

SP Member of Legislative Council Leelawati Kushwaha, being a woman herself also didn’t fall short of carrying her party’s baton. Leelawati had asked Mayawati to testify her ‘virginity’ so that people know whether she is married or not.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, also not short of shameful attempts, had in a rally made sexist and misogynist remarks on Mayawati. He had said, “Main use kya kahun samajh mein nahin aata… kunwari kahun, shrimati kahun, ya behen kahun (I don’t know if I should call her (Ms Mayawati) a spinster, a married woman or just sister).”

All this comes after the infamous 1995 ‘guest house attacks’ where SP goons, armed with rifles and weapons, barged into a meeting room of the BSP workers and had tried to storm in Mayawati’s private room, where she had taken refuge.

Mayawati seems to have decided to ignore all her past insults. Samajwadi Party with its long legacy of misogyny has also been given a soft corner by the Congress-media nexus for their ‘outside support’ of the various Congress governments.

However serious questions also arise on Mayawati’s sensitivity for these issues. Mayawati who herself had been a victim of Samajwadi Party’s derogatory tactics, seemed to have made peace with her erstwhile rival in an attempt to sooth her electoral ambitions. Her silence is sure to send shivers down the spine of all women supports of the BSP. However, Indians are no longer poised to take on these meek attempts of desperation and are set to give a befitting reply to such leaders in the polls.