Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will ask SP MP Azam Khan to apologise on the floor of the House for his sexist remarks against BJP member Rama Devi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Friday, 26 July.
In a meeting of floor leaders of all parties chaired by the Lok Sabha Speaker, it was decided that Khan should apologise or will face action.
“The Speaker will ask Azam Khan to apologise over his comments made against Rama Devi without any condition in the House. If he does not do so, the Speaker has been authorised to take action against him,” Joshi said.
Birla met Opposition leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Jayadev Galla, Danish Ali, Supriya Sule, and others over Khan's remarks today.
Women MPs Condemn Azam Khan’s Remarks
MPs in Lok Sabha on Friday, 26 July, spoke in one voice, condemning the sexiest remarks by Samajwadi Party member Azam Khan against Bihar MP Rama Devi and demanded that he apologise or else he should be suspended from the House.
Cutting across party lines, several MPs condemned Azam Khan's remarks and demanded strict action against him.
During the Zero Hour, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said the remarks made by Khan in Lok Sabha on Thursday during the debate over Triple Talaq Bill were a "blot" on all legislators, including men.
“Let us not reduce this to a problem of just women. This is a blot on all legislators including men. We cannot remain silent spectators to it. We have to speak in one voice that this is unacceptable,” Irani said.
“The entire nation watched yesterday what happened. This House passed the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill. I appeal to all to speak in one voice, you cannot misbehave with a woman and get away with it by just dramatising it,” she added.
"We come here as professionals, not as men and women and we condemn it," NCP MP Supriya Sule said about the comments, demanding an apology and action be taken against Khan so that this behaviour was not repeated.
Demand for Action Against Azam Khan
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the support for Rama Devi was encouraging.
“It is very encouraging to see everyone stand up and speak in one voice condemning what happened yesterday. We look towards you (LS Speaker) for an exemplary action against him,” she said.
TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty demanded some big action from the Speaker on the issue, saying, “Nobody can stand in the Parliament and tell a woman ‘look into my eyes and talk. Speaker sir, all women here are expecting something big from you on this,” she said.
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Khan should either tender an apology or he should be suspended from the House.
“Azam Khan should apologise or else he should be suspended from Lok Sabha. This is our demand,” RS Prasad said. “A message should go out to the nation that parliament does not accept such kind of remarks,” he added.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that there had been such incidents before as well, regarding Sonia Gandhi.
“Congress party is against disrespect of women. There have been incidents when Sonia Gandhiji was called 'Italy ki katputli' etc. in the Parliament,” he said.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)
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