Women should stay away from places where they may be targeted: Azam Khan on Rampur molestation

RAMPUR: After a video of two women being molested by a group of men in broad daylight in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district went viral on social media triggering an outrage in the state, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan fanned the controversy by saying girls should avoid places where they may be molested.“Molestation, misbehaviour with women, loot, dacoity and murder have become the order of the day. Before the assembly polls, I had warned the voters of the consequences of voting for the BJP. I had urged them to keep in mind the perfect rule of the SP... I had said if the BJP was given a chance, law and order will worsen,” he told reporters.The SP leader claimed that women in the state were not safe ever since the BJP government took over. Khan advised the parents of the girls to realise the “gravity of the situation.” “For the safety of your prestige, keep your daughters inside the houses under strict vigil,” he said.Khan’s son Abdullah Azam is an MLA from Swar-Tanda assembly seat where the incident was reported.Reacting to his statement, state minorities affairs minister Baldev Singh Aulakh said, “That’s the reason why the people of the state had ousted the SP regime from power. Azam Khan should apologise for his insensitive comment.” Aulakh said that he wants the police to book the accused under the Gangster Act. and ensure that they get strict punishment. “Harassment of women will not be tolerated under the Yogi Adityanath government,” he added.In December 2016, Azam Khan had to tender an unconditional apology in the Supreme Court for calling the Bulandshahr gangrape incident "a political conspiracy".The former minister had raked controversy by saying that investigative agencies should explore the possibility of an opposition party being involved in the rape of a mother and daughter in Bulandshahr. Calling his statement “objectionable and insensitive”, a bench comprising justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan had observed, "Why should people in power and authority make such statement which shakes faith of victim in justice delivery system?”