Known for making controversial statements, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan set-off another controversy on Friday after he said that mobile phones were responsible for rapes, reported The Times of India, following the rape of a minor in UP. 

This is because, he said, mobile phones have become the "easiest and cheapest source of serving obscenity to younger generation who now are preying on two-and-a-half-year-old girls".

"I can say with conviction that mobile phone is the sole culprit because it is making porn accessible to people of all ages. Even villagers can easily download porn films, which is a matter of serious concern,” the UP Cabinet minister told TOI adding that the government should look into the issue.

Khan's remark has garnered sharp criticism on the social media with former Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah tweeting, 

Of course because rape & depravity didn't exist before the arrival of smart phones!!!! https://t.co/JeKhqJFJm9

— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) October 23, 2015