I have not demanded the dismissal of Azam Khan:Ram Naik

Azamgarh: Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik on Tuesday said that he has not demanded the dismissal of UP cabinet minister Azam Khan for making comments against him in the state assembly last month.

“I have never asked for dismissal of the minister. Journalists draw their own inference. I had sought the CD of the speech from the Speaker in which out of 60 lines 20 lines were removed. It shows that his behaviour was unparliamentary,” Naik said.

“The CM should take cognisance of such behaviour as he was present in the House,” he added.

On important bills getting held up in Raj Bhavan, Naik said that the matter has been taken up with the Speaker and it is also in the knowledge of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Naik had taken strong note of statements made against him in the State Assembly on March 8 and had sought CD and transcript of his speech from the Speaker.

Khan has been engaged in a no-holds-barred war of words with Naik for quite some time, with the minister accusing the Governor of being a “kar sevak” and “vitiating” the atmosphere in Uttar Pradesh at the “behest” of the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.

In a stinging remark in the Assembly, Khan had accused the Governor of stalling several bills by not giving his assent.

—PTI