NEW DELHI: An FIR has been lodged against Shiv Sena MLA

Sanjay Gaikwad

for making inflammatory remarks against Congress MP and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi. Gaikwad allegedly offered a bounty of Rs 11 lakh to anyone who would “chop off the tongue” of Gandhi.
The case was registered at the

Buldana

City Police Station under sections 351(2), 351(4), 192, and 351(3) of the

Bombay Naval and Harbour Police Act

(BNS).

The MLA from Buldhana stirred controversy when he offered a bounty of Rs 11 lakh to anyone who would “chop off” Gandhi’s tongue over comments the Congress leader made during his recent visit to the United States regarding India’s reservation system. Gaikwad, in his statements, accused Gandhi of revealing “the real face of Congress” and making false claims about the BJP’s stance on the Constitution and reservations.
Gaikwad said, “The kind of statement given by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has revealed the real face of Congress. In the Lok Sabha elections, they took votes by spreading lies that the Constitution is in danger, BJP will change the Constitution, and today in America, he said that the reservation given by Baba Saheb Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar… they will end the reservation. Such words have come out of his mouth. Whoever cuts his tongue, I will give him Rs 11 lakh.”

The MLA further attacked Gandhi, alleging that his remarks during the US trip demonstrated the Congress’s opposition to the reservation system. Gaikwad said, “While he was abroad, Rahul Gandhi said that he wants to finish off the reservation system in India. This has exposed the true face of the Congress. I will reward anyone who cuts off Rahul Gandhi’s tongue with Rs 11 lakh.”
Gaikwad’s comments have been widely condemned, with political leaders from various parties distancing themselves from the remarks.

Maharashtra BJP

president Chandrashekar Bawankule disapproved of Gaikwad’s statement, although he pointed to historical opposition to reservations by some Congress leaders. “I will not support or endorse Gaikwad’s comments. However, we cannot forget that the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had opposed reservations, saying it would affect progress.”
Rahul Gandhi’s statements during his US trip, in which he spoke about the continuation of reservations, have sparked considerable debate. Addressing a question on reservations, Gandhi said, “We will think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place. And India is not a fair place.”
Gandhi also criticised the lack of representation from marginalised communities in leadership roles, stating, “Go through the list of every single business leader in India. Show me the tribal name. Show me the Dalit name. Show me the OBC name. Out of the top 200, I think there’s one OBC. They’re 50% of India. But we’re not treating the symptom.”