Azam Khan apologises in Lok Sabha over his sexist remarks on BJP’s Rama Devi

Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan apologised in Lok Sabha on Monday over his sexist remarks on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Rama Devi saying he had ‘no intention to hurt the Chair.’ "I have been an MLA for nine times, a minister several times, a Rajya Sabha member too. I was a parliamentary Affairs Minister too. I know legislative procedures," he said.

“I had no intention to hurt the Chair & if the Chair feels insulted by my comments, I apologize,” the Rampur MP added.  

However, Rama Devi tore into Azam Khan and Akhilesh Yadav after the former was forced to apologise for his remarks last week. 

"Azam Khan has inculcated all the bad habits and it’s very old," she said. 

READ MORE: Chargesheet filed in 13 more cases against MP Azam Khan over his derogatory remarks

After Khan tendered apology, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked all members to maintain decorum.

“Azam Khan has tendered apology and all members must maintain decorum so that no such incident takes place in future,” the Lok Sabha Speaker said.

Azam's remarks to Devi when she was in the Chair during a discussion on the triple talaq bill on Thursday last were slammed as double-meaning, malicious, utterly condemnable and a blot on all legislators by ministers and MPs in Lok Sabha.

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.