Controversial comments made by leaders of the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have increased political heat. Amravati police on Wednesday registered a case against BJP Rajya Sabha MP Anil Bonde for making comments with the intention of ‘inciting riots’. This action comes a day after Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA Sanjay Gaikwad announced a reward of Rs 11 lakh for cutting Rahul Gandhi’s tongue. Gaikwad had made a controversial statement expressing displeasure over Rahul Gandhi’s comments on the reservation system.
Later, while addressing a gathering on Tuesday, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bonde said, “The language of cutting tongues is not appropriate, but what Rahulji said against reservation is dangerous. So if someone says anything absurd abroad, his tongue should be branded instead of cutting it. It is necessary to brand the tongues of such people – whether it is Rahul Gandhi, Gyanesh Maharao or Shyam Manav or people who hurt the sentiments of the Bahujans and the majority.”
After this comment of Bonde, Congress leader and Amravati MP Balwant Wankhede and former minister Yashomati Thakur protested. After this, an FIR was registered against Bonde. During his recent visit to America, Rahul Gandhi had told the students at Georgetown University that Congress will think about ending reservation only when everyone in the country starts getting equal opportunities. He had said, “At present there is no such situation in India.”
The Congress alleged that the comments of these leaders were made with the intention of endangering the security of Rahul Gandhi and disrupting peace in the country in view of the upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. After Bonde’s comments went viral on social media, opposition parties also criticized him. Even within the BJP, Bonde did not get support.
BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said he did not support the remarks made by Bonde and Gaikwad against Rahul Gandhi, but requested Rahul Gandhi to refrain from “anti-India” statements and clarify his stand on the reservation issue.
State Congress president Nana Patole said that Congress workers will protest against Gaikwad and Bonde on Thursday. He also said that Bonde has no right to speak about Rahul Gandhi. He said, “Congress can reply to these people in the same language, but this is not the culture of our party.” He also alleged that the silence of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on this issue supports these leaders. Amravati Police Commissioner Naveen Reddy said that Rajapeth police registered an FIR against Bonde on Wednesday.
A case has been registered against MP Anil Bonde at the Rajapeth police station in Amravati under sections 192 (intentional provocation with intent to cause riot), 351 (2) (intentionally causing criminal force to another person) and 356 (punishment for defamation) of the IPC.
