Noida: Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association, who recently sparked controversy for making derogatory remarks about Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, was slapped inside a news channel's studio in Noida.
A video of the incident is now going viral on social media. The video shows two young men standing near Maulana Sajid Rashidi during a break in the studio, suddenly start slapping him. The anchor and others present can be seen promptly intervening to stop the altercation. One of the man slapping Rashidi has been identified as Kuldeep Bhati, the state secretary of the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha
Reportedly, Rashidi was invited for a news debate on Tuesday in a private news channel located in Noida. Samajwadi Party workers along with youth leader Kuldeep Bhatti suddenly attacked Rasidi.
Kuldeep Bhatti's Statement
Defended His Statement
Rashidi on Monday defended his statement, saying that he did not say anything objectionable. "It is not that bad a word. Here if we see girls going around with their head uncovered, we tell them, Cover your head. Why are you roaming naked," Rashidi said speaking to NDTV.
Justifying his statement he said, "I have not said anything so objectionable. If you zoom into the photo, you can seen her back and neck," he said when asked whether he stands by his statement.
Derogatory Statement
Akhilesh and Dimple Yadav had visited a mosque last month and the cleric had made the comment after watching photos from the occasion.
During a TV debate, the cleric referenced an image from her visit and said, âLook at her (Dimple Yadavâs) back. It is naked.â The comment, which quickly spread across social media platforms, was widely condemned as offensive and misogynistic.
NDA Protests Against Cleric
Earlier on Monday, NDA MPs staged a protest on Parliament premises against the clericâs misogynistic comment against the Samajwadi Party MP, calling it âshameful, offensive and unacceptable.â
