'Is it a curse to be a woman?': Jaya Prada slams Azam Khan for his below-the-belt remark

BJP's Rampur Lok Sabha seat candidate Jaya Prada on Monday hit back at Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan for his below-the-belt remarks on her, asking whether it was a "curse to be a woman".   

Khan, without taking names, on Sunday had said it took "you 17 years to understand her reality" but, "I could recognise it in 17 days that she wears a khaki underwear". The BJP claimed that the comment was made against Prada, who is fighting the Lok Sabha polls against the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader. 

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women urged the Election Commission to take "strong action" against Khan for making offensive remarks against Jaya Prada.

Sharma, in a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, cited two instances when Khan made offensive comments against Jaya Prada, who is fighting the Lok Sabha election against the SP leader from Uttar Pradesh's Rampur seat.

Earlier today, lashing out at the SP leader, she said Khan should not be allowed to contest elections for the sake of democracy and for women.  

"(He has) crossed the lakshman rekhaa (his limits) this time. He is no longer a brother to me. I had considered him as my brother and tolerated everything, but now I cannot tolerate (this)," she told reporters in Rampur.

"What is this man doing? Does he have the right to contest polls? I appeal to the Election Commission that he should not be allowed to contest the polls, he is not eligible to contest the polls," she said.

Prada also cited a Sanskrit shloka and said that "a family in which women are revered or given due respect, that family is blessed with divine qualities, divine food and children, and a family in which women are not revered, all their work bears no result".

Taking note of news reports, the National Commission for Women Monday strongly condemned the "extremely derogatory" remarks made by SP leader Khan against Prada and issued a show cause notice to him.

Also, an FIR has been registered against Azam Khan under section 509 of the IPC (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and under sections of the Representation of People's Act."

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