Azam's infamous buffaloes figure in House debate, offer comic relief

Amid heated debates, light moments were witnessed in UP Assembly today as Opposition leader Swami Prasad Maurya raked up Minister Azam Khan's buffalo-theft incident to highlight the worsening condition of law and order in the state.

Speaking on the dismal law and order situation in the state, Maurya told Khan since his buffaloes were "Queen Victoria", they were found.

“I am reminded of Parliamentary Affairs Minister's (Khan) buffaloes... the situation of law and order is such that thieves took away the buffaloes of the Minister,” he said.

“Because your buffaloes are Queen Victoria, they were found,” Maurya told Khan in a lighter vein. Retorting to the remark, Khan offered a buffalo to the Opposition leader, and said newspapers would publish this issue prominently with pictures of the buffaloes and Maurya, and people would not be able to distinguish between the two.

Maurya was quick to react, and asked Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav why he made a person who cannot distinguish between humans and animals the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, evoking laughter in the House.

Earlier this month, seven buffaloes were stolen from Khan's farmhouse in Rampur and were subsequently recovered by the police.