Khaki underwear jibe: Azam making such remarks to divert attention from real issues, says Noor Bano

Condemning SP leader Azam Khan's "khaki underwear" jibe against BJP candidate from Rampur Jaya Prada, Congress leader Begum Noor Bano says that he wants to divert people's attention from real issues by making such remarks.

The erstwhile Rampur royal also hit out at the Samajwadi Party (SP) for not condemning Khan's remarks, saying she is pained by the party's silence.

"I want to ask SP is it okay for a political person to disrespect a woman? The party is not answering on this issue. And the party, by staying mum, shows that they want this to happen," said Noor Bano, a two-time MP from here.

"They (SP) talk of Muslims and are getting women disrespected every time. I am pained by the silence of the party. It is something that every woman should condemn," she told PTI.

Noor Bano alleged that there has been no development despite Khan making so many promises.

Khan always tries to divert from real matters and in the past, he has raised Hindu-Muslim issues for this purpose, she claimed.

"Now he wants to come to Parliament. He keeps making comments about Jaya Prada so that people's mind is diverted and people get into that debate," said Noor Bano, who has also been a member of the Congress Working Committee in the past.

"Khan wants to divert people from real issues by making such comments," the 79-year-old leader said, adding he doesn't want the issues of development to be discussed, Noor Bano claimed.

Asked if the political discourse had hit an all-time low with Khan's statement, Noor Bano said that after this remark, people have started to wonder is this the agenda of the SP that women are disrespected and families maligned.

"Is Rampur being targeted, that development should not take place here? Our family has done a lot for the development of Rampur for the last several years. He (Khan) does not want to answer to the people on development," she said.

On whether the election has become about the dignity of women, she said, "Of course it has... Specifically, he has targeted a woman. Before this, it was any strong candidate opposing him."