Azam apologises for his sexist remarks in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: Under fire for his sexist remarks, Samajwadi Party member Azam Khan on Monday apologised in Lok Sabha to BJP member Rama Devi who said he has the habit of uttering derogatory words against women. Khan had to repeat his apology twice in the House.

As soon as the House met for the day, Speaker Om Birla asked Khan, who has come under criticism from members across party lines for his sexist remarks against Devi last Thursday, to speak and he tendered his apology.

"I have been an MLA nine times, a minister four times, a Rajya Sabha member too. I was a Parliamentary Affairs Minister twice. I know legislative procedures," he said.

"However, if my words hurt anyone, I hereby apologise," he said. As some of his words were not audible, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said Khan should repeat the sentence clearly as the House could not comprehend what he actually said.

Samajwadi Party President and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was sitting next to Khan, stood up to say that the Rampur MP had already apologised in the House and he can vouch for it.

Yadav also referred to the Unnao rape survivor, who had met with an accident on Sunday and was hospitalised, and said the House should also talk about it, inviting loud protests from treasury benches. A BJP MLA is an accused in the rape case.

Yadav also took a swipe at the BJP wondering why they were only chanting 'Jai Shriram' when they should chant 'Jai Sitaram', eliciting another round of protests from treasury benches.