BJP attacks Azam Khan for demeaning army men

The BJP on Wednesday attacked opposition for making disparaging remarks against the army and asked Samajwadi Party to sack its leader Azam Khan for his " shameful" statement of women chopping off army men's private part.

The BJP described the former UP minister as a " repeat offender" who has the habit of politicising sensitive issues -- which was seen by the ruling party as a move 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 told reporters here. Patra's reaction was in response to SP national general secretary Azam Khan's comment  during his address to party workers in his native district of Rampur that excesses by security forces have led to "women in some places chopping off the private parts of Army men".

With controversial statements from opposition leaders providing ready fodder for BJP, Patra said "he has yet again demeaned the Indian Army and I hope his party will sack him". The party spokesperson recalled the valour exhibited by army personnel to rescue people of Jammu and Kashmir during floods and stressed that world over Indian army enjoys respect.

Such comments, Patra stated, impact the morale of soldiers fighting terrorism.

Even in the past, the BJP leader said, Khan had generated heat over his outrageous remarks. For instance, Khan had said that mobile phones were responsible for rape of minors, Patra recalled.