Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan apologised in Lok Sabha on Monday for making sexist remarks against BJP MP Rama Devi. "I had no malintent towards the Chair. Everyone in the House knows my speech and my conduct, but despite this, if the Chair feels that I made a mistake then I apologise for that," Azam Khan said on Monday in Lok Sabha.
The apology came after Azam Khan and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the House before the start of the session on Monday.
However, BJP MP Rama Devi refused to accept Azam Khan's apology. She said, "Azam Khan’s behaviour has hurt the nation and its women. He has always made such remarks and never changed. His habit should change. He says whatever comes to his mouth, this needs to change."
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav used the opportunity to rake up the car accident of the Unnao rape survivor in Lok Sabha.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi had said that Azam Khan should apologise for insulting Rama Devi as well all women of India and end the matter.
Replying to Prahlad Joshi, Akhilesh Yadav said, "Minister you see this but see what happened with our daughter from Unnao...BJP people say Jai Shri Ram, they don't say Sita Ram."
As the House erupted in chaos, Speaker Om Birla asked Azam Khan to apologise again.
Complying with the Speaker's request, Azam Khan stood up and said, "I had said before also that she is like my sister. Whether I say it once or a thousand times, it will remain the same. It is not possible for me to have any hurtful sentiments for the Chair. I apologise again."
Giving a concluding remark on the matter, Speaker Om Birla urged all MPs to maintain the dignity of the House. "This House belongs to all and it runs on support from everyone. Members must refrain from using language that affects the dignity of the House. Please address the Chair when you are speaking. Please don't talk between yourselves," he said.
The row
SP leader Azam Khan on Thursday courted a fresh controversy when he made a sexist remark against BJP MP Rama Devi who was in the Chair in the Lok Sabha sparking an uproar and demands for his apology.
The National Commission For Women(NCW) and the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) condemned Khan's comment, dubbing it "lecherous and disgraceful".
Participating in the debate on the triple talaq bill, 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, who was presiding over the proceedings, asked Khan not to "look here and there" and address the Chair. To this, the SP member made a sexist remark at the Chair, triggering acrimonious scenes.
BJP women MPs in LS demand apology from Azam Khan for his objectionable remarks against Bihar MP Rama Devi.
Cutting across party lines, several MPs condemned Azam Khan's remarks and demanded strict action against him.
On Friday, in a meeting of floor leaders of all parties chaired by the Lok Sabha Speaker, it was decided that Khan should apologise or face action.
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