As row over Azam Khan's sexist remark intensifies, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla calls all-party meeting

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has called an all-party meet in connection with the controversial remark made by senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan. “I will call a meeting of leaders of all parties and then take a decision on this issue,” Birla was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Participating in the debate on the triple talaq bill on Thursday, Khan referred to the intervention of Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and read out a couplet "... tu idhar-udhar ki baat na kar ..." (do not divert from the topic). At this, Rama Devi asked Khan not to "look here and there" and address the chair. At this, the SP member made a sexist remark at the Chair, leading to an uproar. Rama Devi, however, said she is like his (Azam Khan's) younger sister. She ordered that Khan's remarks be removed from the record.

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The uproar continued on Friday also. During the Zero Hour, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said Khan’s remarks were a "blot" on all legislators, including men. "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. Supporting Irani, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said either Khan should tender an apology or he should be suspended from the House.

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Khan is known for making controversial statements. In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, the SP leader was facing criticism for his "khaki underwear" jibe at BJP leader Jaya Prada in one of his election speeches. The Election Commission of India, miffed over his inflammatory remarks at several places in Uttar Pradesh, barred him from campaigning for 72 hours and served him a show cause notice.

But it didn’t have any impact on his political performance.  Khan won Rampur Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh by defeating BJP candidate Jaya Prada with a margin of 1,09,997 votes. While Azam Khan secured 5,59,177 votes, while his nearest rival Jaya Prada got 4,49,180 votes. Meanwhile, Congress candidate Sanjay Kapoor managed to get 35,009 votes.