By IANS,
Lucknow : Under the poll panel scanner for his alleged disparaging remarks against the Mainpuri district magistrate, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav Friday said he had not made any derogatory comments about the woman IAS officer and his party always believed in equality for women.
“I have not not made any derogatory comment about the district magistrate and the Samajwadi Party has always believed in equality for women and women empowerment,” Yadav told reporters here.
“During my tenure as chief minister, I have helped many women officers to come forward and have nurtured many women officers. I respect women a lot,” he said at the party headquarters.
Yadav had targetted Mainpuri District Magistrate Ministhy Dileep on Monday, saying: “She (Ministhy) is a woman and that is why I am not making any comments on her. She should get her brain checked and should be aware of the fact that Mulayam is contesting from here (Mainpuri).”
According to reports, Yadav made the comments after his local party workers blamed Ministhy for confiscating licensed arms of people supporting the party as they were being used to threaten rival supporters.
The district administration complained to the poll panel about his comments.
Ministhy is also the returning officer of Mainpuri district, 250 kms from here.