New Delhi: Lok Sabha witnessed high drama when Azam Khan made certain objectionable remarks against BJP’s Rama Devi who was presiding over the proceedings, leading to uproar with union ministers pressing for an apology from the Samajwadi Party leader.
Khan later said if he said anything objectionable, he would resign “immediately”.
Participating in the debate on the Triple Talaq Bill on Thursday, 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 asked Khan not to “look here and there” and address the chair.
At this, the SP member made a sexist remark at the Chair, leading to an uproar.
Rama Devi, however, said she is like his (Azam Khan’s) younger sister.
She ordered that Khan’s remarks be removed from the record.
His remarks infuriated Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Arjun Ram Meghwal who urged the Chair to ask Khan to apologise.
When Khan was asked to do so by Rama Devi, he said he meant no disrespect to her as she was like his “dear sister”.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav rose to defend Khan. Meanwhile, Speaker Om Birla took over the proceedings.
Akhilesh said there was no intention to malign the Chair.
At this BJP members protested.
On this, Akhilesh remarked something on the manners of BJP members.
The Speaker took objection to Akhilesh’s remarks, reminding that he had been a chief minister and should be mindful of words which were unparliamentary.
He also asked the SP chief to apologise.
Akhilesh said the word he used was first used by the treasury benches. The Speaker asked him to point out the member who used the term and asked Akhilesh to apologise.
Khan said he has spent a long time in politics and if he has used any unparliamentary language, he is ready to resign “immediately”.
As the Speaker was listening to both sides, Danish Ali (BSP) walked out saying he too was not allowed to speak. Khan joined him in the walkout, saying he cannot speak when he was being insulted.
Later, members of SP and BSP walked out of the proceedings.
Saugata Roy (TMC) said what happened in Parliament now was not good.
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the speaker should use the rule while running the House.
“We are discussing Triple Talaq Bill and if members of minority community are leaving the house, it is not good,” Chowdhury said.
Birla said maintaining the dignity of the House is the responsibility of all members. “A party may have more numbers, but the House runs on consensus … members want remarks to be expunged. But we should not make statements which have to be expunged. When people hear such statements, they form an opinion about MPs,” he said.
Earlier, participating in the debate, Danish Ali said something on BJP members not giving rights to women. But his remarks were expunged by Rama Devi.
BJP MPs protested against Ali’s remark, saying he was making “personal allegations”.
Ali said his party has empowered women and people of Uttar Pradesh still remember the rule of former chief minister Mayamati.
He alleged the BJP was making Triple Talaq as criminal offence to send the Muslim husbands to jail.
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