Azam Khan draws flak after his staff alleges abuse, seeks transfer

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi on Wednesday criticized the state's Urban Development, Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Azam Khan, saying the latter is a hot-tempered person and had offended senior leaders as well.

Joshi, who was reacting to reports of Khan's personal staff seeking transfer from his office saying the minister is abusive towards them, said that it is a very serious issue.

"We have witnessed that whenever Azam Khan is angry, his language is not cordial. His conduct is offensive not only to the officials, but also to the opposition and senior leaders of the opposition," she added, while talking to media in Hamirpur.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kalraj Mishra, commenting on the issue, asked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to intervene in the matter.

"I think if the chief minister has received the complaint then he should take note of it, talk to Azam Khan to find out the reality and must take appropriate action," he said in Lucknow.

The chief of State Government Employees Association, Yadvendra Mishra, told media in Lucknow that two personal secretaries and five additional secretaries of Azam Khan have rebelled against him.

"They have claimed that the minister had used unparliamentary language against them. He has been using foul language against them for the last one and a half years," he said.