<p>Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh city. Party's founder member Azam Khan will contest from Rampur seat, the party announced on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The party also released a list of star campaigners which includes Akhilesh Yadav, Ram Gopal Yadav, Azam Khan, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-samajwadi-party-names-3-women-candidates-dimple-yadav-to-contest-from-kannauj-202078">Dimple Yadav</a> and Jaya Bachchan.</p>

<p>The campaigners'&nbsp;list did not include party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.</p>

<p>The party had earlier released a&nbsp;list of its candidates for 2019 elections.</p>

<p>The list had fielded&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-samajwadi-party-releases-list-of-6-candidates-mulayam-singh-yadav-to-fight-from-mainpuri-201964">Mulayam Singh Yadav</a>&nbsp;as a&nbsp;candidate from the&nbsp;Mainpuri seat, considered as an SP&nbsp;stronghold.</p>

<p>Mulayam Singh Yadav had represented Mainpuri in the Lok Sabha in 1996, 2004 and 2009. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls,&nbsp;he had contested from Azamgarh and Mainpuri and had won both seats.</p>

<p>While Dimple Yadav will contest from Kannauj constituency, from where the 41-year-old has already been elected twice -- in 2012 by-polls and 2014 general elections.</p>

<p>The Samajwadi Party is contesting the polls in alliance with BSP. According to the seat-sharing arrangement, Samajwadi Party will contest 37 seats while BSP will contest 38.</p>


Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh city. Party's founder member Azam Khan will contest from Rampur seat, the party announced on Sunday.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh city. Party's founder member Azam Khan will contest from Rampur seat, the party announced on Sunday. The party also released a list of star campaigners which includes Akhilesh Yadav, Ram Gopal Yadav, Azam Khan, Dimple Yadav and Jaya Bachchan. The campaigners' list did not include party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. The party had earlier released a list of its candidates for 2019 elections. The list had fielded Mulayam Singh Yadav as a candidate from the Mainpuri seat, considered as an SP stronghold. Mulayam Singh Yadav had represented Mainpuri in the Lok Sabha in 1996, 2004 and 2009. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he had contested from Azamgarh and Mainpuri and had won both seats. While Dimple Yadav will contest from Kannauj constituency, from where the 41-year-old has already been elected twice -- in 2012 by-polls and 2014 general elections. The Samajwadi Party is contesting the polls in alliance with BSP. According to the seat-sharing arrangement, Samajwadi Party will contest 37 seats while BSP will contest 38.

Lok Sabha 2019: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to contest from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh

<p>With Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath all set to announce 151-metre tall Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Saturday welcomed the idea and said the statue should be taller that the Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khan said Lord Ram`s statue, which is likely to come up near the Sarayu river in the temple town should be taller than the recently-inaugurated 182-meter Sardar Vallabhai Patel`s statue.</p>

<p>"Why did this thought not occur at the time of building the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel? Why would anybody oppose (the building of Lord Ram`s statue)? I would want an even taller statue of Lord Ram in Rampur," he reportedly told ANI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The announcement in this regard will be made during the Deepawali festivities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The saints in Ayodhya have been reportedly pressing for construction of a statue of Lord Ram similar to that of Statue of Unity.</p>

<p>Located on Sadhu-Bet Island, Gujarat, the 182-metre tall statue of Unity occupies over 20,000 square metres and is surrounded by a 12 square km artificial lake.</p>


With Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath all set to announce 151-metre tall Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Saturday welcomed the idea and said the statue should be taller that the Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

With Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath all set to announce 151-metre tall Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Saturday welcomed the idea and said the statue should be taller that the Statue of Unity of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Khan said Lord Ram`s statue, which is likely to come up near the Sarayu river in the temple town should be taller than the recently-inaugurated 182-meter Sardar Vallabhai Patel`s statue. "Why did this thought not occur at the time of building the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel? Why would anybody oppose (the building of Lord Ram`s statue)? I would want an even taller statue of Lord Ram in Rampur," he reportedly told ANI. The announcement in this regard will be made during the Deepawali festivities. The saints in Ayodhya have been reportedly pressing for construction of a statue of Lord Ram similar to that of Statue of Unity. Located on Sadhu-Bet Island, Gujarat, the 182-metre tall statue of Unity occupies over 20,000 square metres and is surrounded by a 12 square km artificial lake.

Lord Ram's statue should be taller than Statue of Unity, says Azam Khan

<p>Bollywood actress and politician Jaya Prada on Saturday said that Khilji&#39;s character in <em>Padmaavat</em> reminded her of Azam Khan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per Prada, Samajwadi Party leader, Azam Khan, had harassed her during re-election from Rampur constituency in Uttar Pradesh in 2009.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2009, she accused SP leader Azam Khan of circulating material to sully her image and said she would complain to the Election Commission about it.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&quot;When I was watching <em>Padmaavat</em>, Khilji&#39;s character reminded me of Azam Khan ji, how he had harassed me during elections when I was contesting,&quot; she told news agency ANI.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">When I was watching <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Padmaavat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Padmaavat</a> , Khilji&#39;s character reminded me of Azam Khan ji, how he had harassed me during elections when I was contesting: Jaya Prada <a href="https://t.co/NVRi59aK8A">pic.twitter.com/NVRi59aK8A</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/972361694881239043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>The veteran actress had previously said senior party leader Azam Khan was distributing CDs with morphed and objectionable photos of her.</p>

<p>In 2015, the former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and Prada were sacked from SP. Singh had told Khan to avoid making comments on UP Governor Ram Naik as he holds a constitutional post.</p>

<p>&quot;Azam is close to Mulayam Singh Yadav and due to him, me and Jaya Prada were sacked form SP. Such statements from him will adversely affect party&#39;s reputation&quot;, he had said then.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The 55-year-old has continuously accused Azam Khan of harassing her.&nbsp;</p>


As per Prada, Samajwadi Party leader, Azam Khan, had harassed her during re-election from Rampur constituency in Uttar Pradesh in 2009

Bollywood actress and politician Jaya Prada on Saturday said that Khilji's character in Padmaavat reminded her of Azam Khan. As per Prada, Samajwadi Party leader, Azam Khan, had harassed her during re-election from Rampur constituency in Uttar Pradesh in 2009. In 2009, she accused SP leader Azam Khan of circulating material to sully her image and said she would complain to the Election Commission about it. "When I was watching Padmaavat, Khilji's character reminded me of Azam Khan ji, how he had harassed me during elections when I was contesting," she told news agency ANI. When I was watching #Padmaavat , Khilji's character reminded me of Azam Khan ji, how he had harassed me during elections when I was contesting: Jaya Prada pic.twitter.com/NVRi59aK8A — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2018 × The veteran actress had previously said senior party leader Azam Khan was distributing CDs with morphed and objectionable photos of her. In 2015, the former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and Prada were sacked from SP. Singh had told Khan to avoid making comments on UP Governor Ram Naik as he holds a constitutional post. "Azam is close to Mulayam Singh Yadav and due to him, me and Jaya Prada were sacked form SP. Such statements from him will adversely affect party's reputation", he had said then. The 55-year-old has continuously accused Azam Khan of harassing her.

'Azam Khan reminds me of Padmaavat's Khilji,' Jaya Prada says

<p>The opposition parties have blamed the electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/credit-for-up-civic-poll-victory-goes-to-all-bjp-workers-up-cm-25616" target="_blank">victory of BJP in Uttar Pradesh civic polls</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati said that if ballot papers are used, BJP won&#39;t come to power.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She further asked the BJP to discard EVM&#39;s and conduct&nbsp;voting on Ballot papers. She called for such voting in the upcoming 2019 elections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She said, &quot;if BJP is honest and believes in democracy then discard EVMs and conduct voting on Ballot papers.&quot;</p>

<p>She also guaranteed that BJP will not come to power if Ballot papers are used.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav said that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bjp-gains-early-lead-in-up-civic-polls-25565" target="_blank">BJP winning percentage</a> is 46 per cent in areas wherever&nbsp;polls were conducted via EVMs and 15 per cent when it was done by ballot papers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">BJP says a total of 16 elections have been held in UP, out of which 14 were won by BJP, 2 by BSP &amp; Congress-SP disappeared. We say that BJP&#39;s wining percentage is 46% wherever polls were conducted via EVMs and 15% when it was done via ballot papers.: Akhilesh Yadav, SP in Kolkata <a href="https://t.co/n4l1OOaU5U">pic.twitter.com/n4l1OOaU5U</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/936875172623089664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Another Samajwadi party leader, Azam Khan has claimed that there was &quot;setting&quot;&nbsp;in the elections. He said that BJP won in areas where EVMs were used and SP won wherever&nbsp;ballot papers were used.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There was no tampering but setting. BJP won wherever EVMs were used and SP won wherever ballot papers were used.: Azam Khan, Samajwadi Party <a href="https://t.co/xQja0uAjQI">pic.twitter.com/xQja0uAjQI</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/936881347078995968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>In the recent&nbsp;civic polls, the results of which were announced on December 1 BJP registered a massive victory by winning over 14 out of the 16 mayoral seats.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">If BJP is honest &amp; believes in democracy then discard EVMs &amp; conduct voting on Ballot papers. General Elections are due in 2019. If BJP believes people are with them, they must implement it. I can guarantee if Ballot papers are used, BJP won&#39;t come to power.: Mayawati, BSP Pres <a href="https://t.co/NYveJeuSDb">pic.twitter.com/NYveJeuSDb</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/936835472508182529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/amethi-rahul-gandhis-family-bastion-falls-to-bjp-in-up-civic-falls-25611" target="_blank">party even swept Gandhi&#39;s out of Amethi</a>- which has been the Gandhi&#39;s bastion since ages.&nbsp;</p>


Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has said that the BJP winning percentage is 46 per cent in areas wherever?polls were conducted via EVMs and 15 per cent when it was done by ballot papers

The opposition parties have blamed the electronic voting machines (EVMs) for the victory of BJP in Uttar Pradesh civic polls. Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati said that if ballot papers are used, BJP won't come to power. She further asked the BJP to discard EVM's and conduct voting on Ballot papers. She called for such voting in the upcoming 2019 elections. She said, "if BJP is honest and believes in democracy then discard EVMs and conduct voting on Ballot papers." She also guaranteed that BJP will not come to power if Ballot papers are used. Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav said that the BJP winning percentage is 46 per cent in areas wherever polls were conducted via EVMs and 15 per cent when it was done by ballot papers. BJP says a total of 16 elections have been held in UP, out of which 14 were won by BJP, 2 by BSP & Congress-SP disappeared. We say that BJP's wining percentage is 46% wherever polls were conducted via EVMs and 15% when it was done via ballot papers.: Akhilesh Yadav, SP in Kolkata pic.twitter.com/n4l1OOaU5U — ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2017 × Another Samajwadi party leader, Azam Khan has claimed that there was "setting" in the elections. He said that BJP won in areas where EVMs were used and SP won wherever ballot papers were used. There was no tampering but setting. BJP won wherever EVMs were used and SP won wherever ballot papers were used.: Azam Khan, Samajwadi Party pic.twitter.com/xQja0uAjQI — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 2, 2017 × In the recent civic polls, the results of which were announced on December 1 BJP registered a massive victory by winning over 14 out of the 16 mayoral seats. If BJP is honest & believes in democracy then discard EVMs & conduct voting on Ballot papers. General Elections are due in 2019. If BJP believes people are with them, they must implement it. I can guarantee if Ballot papers are used, BJP won't come to power.: Mayawati, BSP Pres pic.twitter.com/NYveJeuSDb — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 2, 2017 × The party even swept Gandhi's out of Amethi- which has been the Gandhi's bastion since ages.

If ballot papers are used, BJP won't come to power: Mayawati

<p>Yogi Adityanath has said it does not matter who built the Taj Mahal, or why it was built.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But that it was built with the blood and sweat of Indian labourers.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It does not matter who built it and for what reason; it was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers: UP CM Yogi Adityanath <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TajMahal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TajMahal</a> <a href="https://t.co/KSFU56KIRz">pic.twitter.com/KSFU56KIRz</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/920188361439977472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It is very imp for us, especially from tourism perspective it is our priority to provide facilities &amp; safety to tourists there: CM <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TajMahal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TajMahal</a> <a href="https://t.co/exOCYL0YgD">pic.twitter.com/exOCYL0YgD</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/920189104347742208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;It does not matter who built it and for what reason; it was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers,&quot; ANI quoted him as saying.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He did however add that the Taj was &quot;very important for us, especially from tourism perspective&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The controvery had been brewed yesterday by BJP MLA Sangeet Som when he was quoted as having said the Taj was a blot on Indian culture.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That its maker -- Shahjahan -- had put his father in prison, and that he had &quot;wanted to wipe out HIndus&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-mla-sangeet-som-says-taj-creator-wanted-to-wipe-out-hindus-22478" target="_blank">WATCH: MLA Sangeet Som says Taj creator &#39;wanted to wipe out Hindus&#39;</a></p>

<p>To which the SP&#39;s Azam Khan had replied that by that logic, India&#39;s Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan -- built by the British -- were symbols of slavery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And that they too should be demolished.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yogi&#39;s most recent comments on the Taj came after Khan&#39;s.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yogi had earlier said the Taj was not indicative of Indian culture.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taj-mahal-minarets-not-representative-of-indian-culture-yogi-adityanath-16904" target="_blank">Taj Mahal, minarets not representative of Indian culture: Yogi Adityanath</a></p>

<p>He was at the time complaining about the practice of gifting visiting foreign dignitaries replicas of the Taj.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Taj is considered one of the seven wonders of the world.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Yogi&#39;s government seemed to spite the Taj again recently when a booklet brought out by his government&#39;s tourism department left out the Taj from a list of the state&#39;s tourist spots.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/taj-mahal-not-on-list-of-up-tourist-spots-20914" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Taj Mahal not on list of UP tourist spots</a></p>

<p>ANI also reported Yogi as saying he would be visiting Agra on October 25, and that while there he would visit the Taj.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are organizing a special event on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Diwali?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Diwali</a> in Ayodhya, it will be a world class event: Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh CM <a href="https://t.co/P3JPgjNj1K">pic.twitter.com/P3JPgjNj1K</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/920187513473458176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/yogi-government-plans-tp-build-100-m-tall-statue-of-lord-ram-in-ayodhya-21204" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;Yogi government plans 100-mt-tall Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya</a></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


The Uttar Pradesh chief minister added that the Taj was 'very important for us, especially from tourism perspective'

Yogi Adityanath has said it does not matter who built the Taj Mahal, or why it was built. But that it was built with the blood and sweat of Indian labourers. It does not matter who built it and for what reason; it was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers: UP CM Yogi Adityanath #TajMahal pic.twitter.com/KSFU56KIRz — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 17, 2017 × It is very imp for us, especially from tourism perspective it is our priority to provide facilities & safety to tourists there: CM #TajMahal pic.twitter.com/exOCYL0YgD — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 17, 2017 × "It does not matter who built it and for what reason; it was built by blood and sweat of Indian labourers," ANI quoted him as saying. He did however add that the Taj was "very important for us, especially from tourism perspective". The controvery had been brewed yesterday by BJP MLA Sangeet Som when he was quoted as having said the Taj was a blot on Indian culture. That its maker -- Shahjahan -- had put his father in prison, and that he had "wanted to wipe out HIndus". WATCH: MLA Sangeet Som says Taj creator 'wanted to wipe out Hindus' To which the SP's Azam Khan had replied that by that logic, India's Parliament and Rashtrapati Bhavan -- built by the British -- were symbols of slavery. And that they too should be demolished. Yogi's most recent comments on the Taj came after Khan's. Yogi had earlier said the Taj was not indicative of Indian culture. Taj Mahal, minarets not representative of Indian culture: Yogi Adityanath He was at the time complaining about the practice of gifting visiting foreign dignitaries replicas of the Taj. The Taj is considered one of the seven wonders of the world. Yogi's government seemed to spite the Taj again recently when a booklet brought out by his government's tourism department left out the Taj from a list of the state's tourist spots. Also read: Taj Mahal not on list of UP tourist spots ANI also reported Yogi as saying he would be visiting Agra on October 25, and that while there he would visit the Taj. We are organizing a special event on #Diwali in Ayodhya, it will be a world class event: Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh CM pic.twitter.com/P3JPgjNj1K — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 17, 2017 × Also read: Yogi government plans 100-mt-tall Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya

Yogi on Taj Mahal: Does not matter who built it & why, was built by blood & sweat of Indian labourers

<p>Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader and lawyer Rajesh Kumar Awasthi has announced a Rs 50 lakh reward to anyone who cuts off Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan&rsquo;s tongue, The Indian Express reported.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;<br />
This announcement comes three days after Khan made controversial remarks about the Indian armed forces.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Azam Khan, while speaking at the SP office in Rampur district on June 27, had referred to &quot;shameful violent happenings&quot; in places such as Kashmir, Tripura, Jharkhand and Bengal.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Khan had said excesses by security forces had led to &quot;women in some places chopping off the private parts of Army men&quot;.</p>

<p>Awasthi, who is a VHP district secretary, said he would sell his property to pay the reward.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I have announced to give Rs 50 lakh cash to anyone who cuts off Azam&rsquo;s tongue. If anyone is ready to take my offer and complete the task, I would sell off my property to pay the amount,&rdquo; Awasthi said, The Indian Express reported.</p>

<p>A police inquiry has been ordered.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, on Friday, Khan was charged with sedition for his comments at the Chandpur police station in Bijnor.&nbsp;<br />
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The leader, a lawyer, said he would sell his property to pay the reward

Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader and lawyer Rajesh Kumar Awasthi has announced a Rs 50 lakh reward to anyone who cuts off Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan’s tongue, The Indian Express reported. This announcement comes three days after Khan made controversial remarks about the Indian armed forces. Azam Khan, while speaking at the SP office in Rampur district on June 27, had referred to "shameful violent happenings" in places such as Kashmir, Tripura, Jharkhand and Bengal. Khan had said excesses by security forces had led to "women in some places chopping off the private parts of Army men". Awasthi, who is a VHP district secretary, said he would sell his property to pay the reward. “I have announced to give Rs 50 lakh cash to anyone who cuts off Azam’s tongue. If anyone is ready to take my offer and complete the task, I would sell off my property to pay the amount,” Awasthi said, The Indian Express reported. A police inquiry has been ordered. Meanwhile, on Friday, Khan was charged with sedition for his comments at the Chandpur police station in Bijnor.

VHP leader announces Rs 50 lakh reward for Azam Khan's tongue

<p>Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has kicked up a storm again, this time with remarks about the Indian Army that were today condemned by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which urged the SP to &quot;sack&quot; him.</p>

<p>Addressing party activists in Rampur yesterday, the SP national general secretary referred to &quot;shameful violent happenings&quot; in places such as Kashmir, Tripura, Jharkhand and Bengal.</p>

<p>Khan said excesses by security forces had led to &quot;women in some places chopping off the private parts of Army men&quot;.</p>

<p>The BJP hit out at the SP leader, demanding that his party &quot;sack&quot; him for seeking to &quot;divide the country&quot; on religious lines.</p>

<p>&quot;It has become a fashion in the country to demean the Indian Army in the name of freedom of speech and expression,&quot; BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said in New Delhi, attacking the SP, Congress and the Left for &quot;making statements against the Army&quot;.</p>

<p>While the Army protected the borders, the political parties were bent upon &quot;showing it in a poor light&quot;, he said.</p>

<p>Describing Khan&#39;s statement as &quot;shameful&quot;, Patra said he was &quot;a repeat offender&quot; who politicised sensitive issues related to defence.</p>

<p>&quot;He has yet again demeaned the Indian Army and I hope his party will sack him,&quot; the BJP leader said.</p>

<p>Patra referred to the &quot;valour&quot; of the army when it rescued people in the valley during the floods.</p>

<p>&quot;Everyone across the globe respects the Indian Army, and because of it we have a vibrant democracy,&quot; Patra added.</p>

<p>&quot;But Mr Khan is trying to create a narrative to divide the country on the basis of religion,&quot; Patra said, adding that it hit the morale of soldiers fighting cross-border terrorism.</p>

<p>Azam has often triggered controversy with his remarks on rape. He was quoted as telling a rape victim, &quot;If you keep talking about the crime, how will you show your face to the world?&quot;.</p>

<p>On another occasion, he said mobile phones were responsible for the rape of minors.</p>

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Azam Khan had said excesses by security forces had led to 'women in some places chopping off the private parts of Army men'

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has kicked up a storm again, this time with remarks about the Indian Army that were today condemned by the Bharatiya Janata Party, which urged the SP to "sack" him. 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 Indian Army in the name of freedom of speech and expression," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said in New Delhi, attacking the SP, Congress and the Left for "making statements against the Army". While the Army protected the borders, the political parties were bent upon "showing it in a poor light", he said. 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. Patra referred to the "valour" of the army when it rescued people in the valley during the floods. "Everyone across the globe respects the Indian Army, and because of it we have a vibrant democracy," Patra added. "But Mr Khan is trying to create a narrative to divide the country on the basis of religion," Patra said, adding that it hit the morale of soldiers fighting cross-border terrorism. Azam has often triggered controversy with his remarks on rape. He was quoted as telling a rape victim, "If you keep talking about the crime, how will you show your face to the world?". On another occasion, he said mobile phones were responsible for the rape of minors.

Azam Khan sparks outrage for 'women chopping army men private parts' comment

A day after an Indian high court transferred the Bulandshahr mother-daughter gang rape case to federal police for investigation after hearing a petition, the minor victim today moved Supreme Court demanding that FIRs be registered against Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Azam Khan and the erring police officials.<br />
<br />
The other demands of the minor victim include the transfer of this case to New Delhi, a court-monitored probe, security and rehabilitation.<br />
<br />
Earlier this month, the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader in northern state kicked up a controversy with his insensitive remarks suggesting that this incident of gang rape could be a political conspiracy against the ruling government.&nbsp;<br />
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Khan received a flurry of criticism for his comments from the opposition parties, women&#39;s groups as well as the victim&#39;s family members.<br />
<br />
The Allahabad High Court, while ordering the inquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), observed it was &quot;not satisfied&quot; with the police investigation so far. The High Court, which had taken suo motu cognizance of the July 29 incident, also said it intended to &quot;monitor the investigation into the case&quot;.<br />
<br />
A division bench comprising Chief Justice DB Bhosale and justice Yashwant Varma passed the order a day after the state government submitted a status report on the investigation into the incident in a sealed cover.<br />
<br />
The incident had taken place when six members of a Noida-based family were travelling to Shahjahanpur in western Uttar Pradesh.<br />
<br />
At the National Highway passing through Bulandshahr, their car was stopped by criminals, who dragged the 13-year-old girl and her mother out and raped them in a field nearby.<br />
<br />
(ANI)<br />
&nbsp;

Khan raked widespread controversy as he suggested that the gangrape incident could be 'political controversy'

A day after an Indian high court transferred the Bulandshahr mother-daughter gang rape case to federal police for investigation after hearing a petition, the minor victim today moved Supreme Court demanding that FIRs be registered against Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Azam Khan and the erring police officials. The other demands of the minor victim include the transfer of this case to New Delhi, a court-monitored probe, security and rehabilitation. Earlier this month, the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader in northern state kicked up a controversy with his insensitive remarks suggesting that this incident of gang rape could be a political conspiracy against the ruling government. Khan received a flurry of criticism for his comments from the opposition parties, women's groups as well as the victim's family members. The Allahabad High Court, while ordering the inquiry by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), observed it was "not satisfied" with the police investigation so far. The High Court, which had taken suo motu cognizance of the July 29 incident, also said it intended to "monitor the investigation into the case". A division bench comprising Chief Justice DB Bhosale and justice Yashwant Varma passed the order a day after the state government submitted a status report on the investigation into the incident in a sealed cover. The incident had taken place when six members of a Noida-based family were travelling to Shahjahanpur in western Uttar Pradesh. At the National Highway passing through Bulandshahr, their car was stopped by criminals, who dragged the 13-year-old girl and her mother out and raped them in a field nearby. (ANI)

Bulandshahr gang rape minor victim moves India's top court, seeks FIR against state minister Azam Khan

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