OM Birla says he will decide on it after consulting all-party leaders
The Lok Sabha on Friday saw a massive uproar over Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan’s “sexiest” comment against BJP woman MP Rama Devi with members of the House authorising Speaker Om Birla to seek an apology from the lawmaker.
MPs cutting across party lines condemned Azam’s remark in strong terms with some saying that if such sexiest behavior prevailed in the august house against women than what is to be expected elsewhere.
After hearing out the House for one hour, the Speaker said he would decide on the issue after consulting all leaders. According to sources, the Speaker may ask the SP to tender an unconditional apology to resolve the issue.
Azam’s remarks to Rama Devi when she was in the Chair during a discussion on the triple talaq Bill on Thursday were slammed as malicious, utterly condemnable and a blot on all legislators by the Ministers and MPs who spoke after BJP’s Sanghmitra Maurya raised the issue during the Zero Hour.
Several women MPs, including Central Ministers, TMC, NCP, DMK and BJP, vociferously demanded strongest possible action against the SP MP as the Speaker opened the floor and allowed all to speak during the Zero Hour.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the Speaker was the custodian he could take strong action against the MP. He said all MPs have to maintain decorum in the House and asked the Speaker to take “most exemplary punishment” in the case.
Other Central Ministers, including Ravishankar Prasad, Nirmala Sitharaman, Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur, vociferously condemned the Azam’s remark.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said his party does not approve of such behaviour and Privilege or Ethics Committee should look into the issue. He, however, also said that at times a Congress leader was also referred as “daughter of Italy, Italy ki kathputli”. This evoked protests from the Treasury Benches which demanded the Congress to come clean on its stand on the current issue. Chowdhury later agreed with the prevailing view that the Speaker should take a call on punishing Azam.
AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi said he respected the sentiments of the House but took a dig at the Government asking about the fate of a Group of Ministers, which was constituted following a wave of allegations of sexual harassment against women in the “Me Too” movement, including against then Union Minister and BJP leader MJ Akbar.
“This is a blot on all legislators including men,” Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said and also attacked SP leader Akhilesh Yadav for supporting Azam in the House on Thursday after the row erupted.
Azam and Akhilesh Yadav were not present in the House.
If Azam had made these comments outside Parliament, then police would have come to the woman’s rescue, Irani said as she urged political parties to rise above political differences and appealed to Speaker Om Birla to take action.
Sitharaman wondered why there was “dilemma” and “hesitation” in taking a stand on the issue, in an apparent dig at the Opposition party which objected to her remarks.
The Finance Minister said Azam’s comments were utterly condemnable and said the House was looking to the Speaker to take exemplary action. Prasad said either Azam should tender an apology or he should be suspended from the House.
Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee said a person who does not show respect to women does not know Indian culture.
NCP’s Supriya Sule said she hangs her head in shame at Azam’s offensive language and called for strict punishment.
JD(U)’s Lalan Singh said the Speaker should take strongest action so that such behaviour is not repeated.
DMK’s Kanimozhi wondered how women would be treated outside Parliament when they are “insulted” in such a way inside. Apna Dal’s Anupriya Patel said the entire nation is ashamed.
BJD’s B Mahtab said Khan’s remarks were “unpardonable” and deserved exemplary action. “It was one of the darkest days,” he added.
Union Minister Arjun Meghwal said Azam’s comments were of double-meaning and he has a history of making such remarks outside the House as well.