Rampur, April 30: The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday barred Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan from election campaigning for 48 hours starting from 6 am tomorrow, for violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC). He was banned from campaigning after a case was registered against the SP leader for violating the MCC at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur on April 25. This is the second time he was barred from campaigning by the poll conducting body. Azam Khan Banned From Campaigning For 72 Hours by Election Commission For Derogatory Jibe at Jaya Prada.

The case was registered against him on April 27. Saloni Agarwal, Circle Officer of Milak in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur had said, “The comments made by Azam Khan on April 25 were found to be in violation of the MCC. A case was registered against him and two others.” Azam Khan's 'Khaki Underwear' Jibe at Jaya Prada Further Lowers Discourse in Lok Sabha Elections 2019; Watch Video.

During the rally, Khan had allegedly referred to the Kargil War and used religious slogans. The SP leader had said, “During the Kargil War, Indian soldiers comprising both Hindus and Muslims defeated Pakistanis. The Indian soldiers shouted ‘Naara-e- Takbeer Allahu Akbar’ to fool Pakistanis, who mistook them for their own soldiers and came out to their cover. After this, Indian soldiers immediately them.” Rampur Lok Sabha Constituency in Uttar Pradesh: Candidates, Current MP, Polling Date and Election Results 2019.

Earlier this month also, the EC had imposed a 72 hours ban on the SP leader for violating the MCC. The action against Khan was taken for his derogatory 'khaki underwear' comment. Commenting on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Rampur, Jaya Prada, Khan had said, “I brought her (Jaya Prada) to Rampur. You are a witness that I did not allow anyone to touch her body. It took you 17 years to identify her real face, but I got to know in 17 days that she wears khaki underwear."

Rampur Lok Sabha constituency went for polls in the third phase on April 23. Khan is contesting against Prada, who had won this seat in 2014 on the SP ticket. In Uttar Pradesh, the parliamentary polls are taking place in seven phases. The results will be declared on May 23.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2019 08:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).