MPs condemn bounty on Mamata

MPs across the political spectrum have condemned a BJP youth wing leader’s announcement of a Rs 11-lakh bounty to anyone who beheads West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Supporting the Trinamool Congress MPs who raised the issue in Parliament, the ruling and Opposition leaders castigated BJP leader Yogesh Varshney, while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar and his deputy Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi recorded the government’s condemnations in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy told the Rajya Sabha that Varshney called Mamata a demon, while announcing the reward for her beheading. Demanding action, Roy said the Centre is “trying to unleash a reign of terror” in West Bengal in the name of religion.

“The state government is free to take appropriate legal action (against the BJP activist),” Naqvi said.

“For such people, action can be taken under the law. An FIR should be registered. Law should take its own course,” Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said. Terming it a serious matter, BSP leader Mayawati said the BJP should take action, and not just stop with condemnation.

SP leader Jaya Bachchan said, “You (the government) can protect cows, but women face atrocities.” She said aggressive steps should be taken to protect women, especially when a woman chief minister is being targeted.

BJP MP Roopa Ganguly  said, “I was beaten up by 17 TMC goons in front of policemen. The chief minister, who is a woman, should answer this.”  In the Lok Sabha, Kumar said the statement (against the chief minister) was completely wrong. “She is an elected chief minister and due respect must be given to her,” he said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said everyone must work together to better the political discourse, which has been getting unpleasant in recent times.