Srinagar, Aug 7 — BJP leader Altaf Thakur on Thursday apologised for the anti-women slogans raised during the party’s Article 370 abrogation anniversary celebrations in Anantnag, saying the remarks were offensive and did not represent the Bharatiya Janata Party’s official position.
The controversy erupted after slogans referencing “Azi” and “Fazi”—traditional names commonly associated with Kashmiri women of an earlier generation—were raised during Wednesday’s rally. The slogan, “Maklov Azi hund ti Fazi hund yezat,” drew widespread criticism for being derogatory towards women.
“I apologise to anyone who was hurt by the derogatory slogans,” Thakur told reporters, asserting that the BJP believes in upholding the dignity of women. “Demeaning words were used against women, who are our sisters, mothers and daughters.”
Reiterating the party’s commitment to women’s empowerment, Thakur said the BJP has consistently worked to protect the honour and dignity of women and cited the Centre’s decision to provide 33 per cent reservation for women as evidence of that commitment.
He maintained that the objectionable slogans were raised by certain individuals and should not be attributed to the BJP as an organisation.
“Some individuals may have raised slogans based on their personal thinking or emotions, but those slogans do not represent the BJP’s official stand or the views of the leaders who led the rally. The party does not endorse any defamatory or derogatory remarks against anyone,” he said.
Reacting to the incident, National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said the slogans were an affront to Kashmiri society and its values.
“Azi and Fazi are not merely names. They symbolise the respect, affection and dignity with which Kashmir has always regarded its mothers and sisters. The day political leaders chose to turn those names into a joke, they crossed a line,” Sadiq said in a post on X.
