Rampur, Sep 4 - The Rampur chief judicial magistrate's court in Uttar Pradesh has issued summons for former Samajwadi Party leader Mohammad Azam Khan to appear in the court Sep 29 on a charge of delivering an inflammatory speech in 2007 at a public meeting in Tanda town while campaigning for a by-election there.

A case was filed by a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) activist Dheeraj Sheel alleging that Azam Khan had used derogatory language against BSP supremo and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, which violated the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Azam Khan's Aug 7, 2007, speech was recorded by elections officials and after an inquiry by a police officer, a chargesheet was filed in the court that also said Khan's speech was violative of the electoral model code of conduct.

Khan was recently dismissed from the Samajwadi Party for six years on charge of his involvement in anti-party activities while he had on his own quit his post as deputy leader of opposition in the state assembly. He had opposed the fielding of Jayaprada as the party nominee from Rampur during the April-May general elections.