Samajwadi Party (SP) member Azam Khan on Monday was made to apologise twice in the Lok Sabha for making bjectionable remarks against BJP member Rama Devi when she was presiding over the proceedings of the Lower House last week.
“The matter that has come in front of you regarding me, I want to say that I had no such intention towards the Chair. I have been a nine-time legislator, a minister for Parliamentary Affairs [in Uttar Pradesh] and a Rajya Sabha member. Everyone is aware of my conduct and behavior. But if people think that I committed a mistake then I am sorry for it,” Mr. Khan said almost as soon as the day's proceedings began.
Mr. Khan, along with party chief Akhilesh Yadav, met Speaker Om Birla before the start of the session.
But the apology was not acceptable to many members of the Treasury Benches since the word “sorry” was barely heard.
“The disrespect which has been meted out to all women parliamentarians and to the women community, he should apologise properly to finish this,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.
Mr. Yadav stood up in the defence of his colleague and said he has already apologised once. Instead, Mr. Yadav said, the BJP should apologise for the ‘atrocities against women in Uttar Pradesh and the worsening law and order situation’.
Mr. Yadav referred to the suspicious car accident of the Unnao rape survivor . “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’,” he said in response to the Minister.
Mr. Birla, however, asked Mr. Khan to apologise once again.
“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,” Mr. Khan said.
The BJP MP, however, was agitated, but made it clear that she accepted the apology out of respect for the Speaker's Chair. She also questioned why Mr. Yadav spoke on behalf Mr. Khan. “I am a senior parliamentarian and I have struggled to come here, to represent the voices of people. It does not mean that Azam Khan can say whatever he likes to the Chair. I am not here to hear such thing,” she said.
Bringing an end to the discord, Mr. Birla urged every member to ensure that they maintain a certain dignity in their conduct in future.
“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.
