Stung by Azam Khan's jibe, Jaya Prada slams Akhilesh Yadav for inaction

Rampur (UP): Attacking SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for inaction over his candidate Azam Khan’s “khaki underwear” jibe against her, BJP’s nominee from Rampur Jaya Prada says it could well be the party’s undoing with women in the constituency now turning against it.

The actor-politician said Mr Yadav’s response to Mr Khan’s insensitive remark shows he is “groomed” in an atmosphere where his thinking mirrors that of the veteran SP leader from Rampur.

Ms Prada, who is taking on Mr Khan in this constituency after switching to the BJP just ahead of the polls, said the reason for his animosity against her could be his insecurity. “He is a very inferior person, so he doesn’t like women progressing,” the actor-turned politician said.

Asked if she felt hurt by her former party’s patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav not condemning Mr Khan’s remarks, Ms Prada said she is not hurt but did expect younger leaders to have new and positive thinking.

“But in his (Akhilesh Yadav) presence, Azam Khan made such a stupid kind of statement so there is no expectation from Akhilesh. That means he is groomed in this atmosphere so his thinking is also like that,” she said.

In her view, political discourse has hit an all-time low with Mr Khan’s remark. “Whatever the comment he has given, all over the country people have started reacting and they are abusing him. But it is very disappointing. I feel very ashamed to have chosen a brother like Azam Khan,” the BJP leader said.

“Maybe it was a wrong choice for me to call him a brother and he proved in reality he is not the person he pretends to be,” she said.

After Mr Khan’s remark, she said she feels all women will vote for her.

Asked if women will vote for her irrespective of caste and religion after Mr Khan’s remarks, she said, “Definitely.”