Azam draws BJP ire over Army remark

Rampur/New Delhi, June 28

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has kicked up a storm again, this time with remarks about the Indian Army, prompting the BJP to seek his ouster from the SP.

Addressing party activists in Rampur yesterday, the SP national general secretary referred to “shameful violent happenings” in places such as Kashmir, Tripura, Jharkhand and Bengal.

Khan said excesses by security forces had led to “women in some places chopping off the private parts of Army men”.

The BJP hit out at the SP leader, demanding that his party “sack” him for seeking to “divide the country” on religious lines.

“It has become a fashion in the country to demean the Army in the name of freedom of speech and expression,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, attacking the SP, Congress and the Left for “making statements against the Army”.

Describing Khan’s statement as “shameful”, Patra said he was a “repeat offender” who politicised sensitive issues related to defence.

“He has yet again demeaned the Indian Army and I hope his party will sack him,” the BJP leader said.

Azam has in the past triggered controversy with his remarks on rape. — PTI