Opposition members in Parliament expressed serious concern over a BJP youth wing leader announcing a ₹11-lakh bounty for anyone who “beheads” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, with the Centre saying the State government was “free to take legal action” against him.
Yogesh Varshney of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha made the controversial remark after the West Bengal police used batons to disperse a rally raising slogans in praise of Lord Rama on Hanuman Jayanti.
Trinamool member Sukhendu Sekhar raised the issue during Zero Hour in the Upper House.
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Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: “I strongly condemn such statements. The State government is free to take legal action.”
Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said the State government can register an FIR and take action. He added there was no need for further discussion on it as the Minister had condemned the statement.
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BSP chief Mayawati demanded that the BJP take action against the individual rather than just condemning the statement.
Samajwadi Party’s Jaya Bachchan said, “You can protect cows, and women are facing atrocities. How dare somebody talk like this, especially against a woman?.. Is this the way they are going to protect the women of this country?”
In the Lok Sabha too, members condemned the BJP activist’s statement, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar expressing his displeasure.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said everyone must condemn such statements.
Raising the issue soon after the House assembled, Trinamool member Saugata Roy said: “Mamata Banerjee is not only a Chief Minister but a former member of this House too. It is a serious and alarming behaviour.”
( With PTI inputs )