Shiv Sena MLA Announces Rs 11 Lakh Reward for Cutting Off Rahul's Tongue; Faces Backlash

Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad kicked up a row by announcing a Rs 11 lakh reward to anyone chopping off Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's tongue for his remarks on scrapping the reservation system.
As the remarks triggered a political firestorm and raised calls for action, police on Monday night registered a case against the Buldhana MLA.

While he was abroad, Rahul Gandhi said that he wanted to finish off the reservation system in India. This has exposed the true face of the Congress," Gaikwad told reporters, before announcing the bizarre reward.

"During his recent US visit, Rahul Gandhi spoke about abolishing reservations. It reflects the mentality that is intrinsically anti-reservation. Anyone who cut off Rahul Gandhi's tongue will be rewarded with Rs 11 lakh, said Gaikwad.
The Congress had defeated Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in elections, he added.

Gandhi's words are the biggest betrayal of the people, says the MLA. Marathas, Dhangars, and OBCs are fighting for their rights to reservation but before that, Gandhi is talking about ending the facility of it.
"The book of the Constitution which Rahul Gandhi used to flaunt and project that the BJP would touch it. But it is the Congress that will take the country back to 400 years," he added.

While the row brews over Gaikwad's remarks, Shiv Sena's ally BJP distanced itself from Gaikwad comments.

"I will not support or endorse the gaikwad remarks. However we cannot forget the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had opposed reservations saying it would affect the progress, "states BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule.

Perhaps his recent statement that he will abolish the actual reservation for those in need is a joke, BJP leader said. This is not the first time that a leader of NCP has made such a statement. Earlier also, some leaders have made statement that reservation is not required and the society needs to unite.
Rajiv Gandhi had said giving reservations means supporting idiots. Now Rahul Gandhi says he would end reservations," the BJP leader said.
State Congress president Nana Patole on Monday asked Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to clarify his stand over Gaikwad's remarks and demanded legal action.
"Eknath Shinde should clarify his stand over Gaikwad's remarks. There should be legal action, otherwise, Congress party workers will take some decisive action against Gaikwad," Patole said.

Maharashtra Congress spokesman Atul Londhe said, "Sanjay Gaikwad does not deserve to stay in society and politics. We want to see whether Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis invokes charges of culpable homicide against Gaikwad." A case was registered against Gaikwad under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita section 351 (2) and other relevant sections, said a Buldhana Police official on Monday night.

Congress workers had gone on a sit-in protest at Buldhana city police station earlier in the day.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray questioned the status of the law and order situation in Maharashtra over Gaikwad's remarks.

During the agitation over the Badlapur incident, (Shinde Sena leader) Waman Mhatre made some provocative remarks against a woman journalist. No action was taken against Mhatre, but an FIR was filed against the woman journalist. Several such incidents are taking place. It seems the state has no home minister, he said targeting Devendra Fadnavis of BJP.

Speaking on the seat-sharing talks in MVA, Thackeray said that the allocation of seats will be announced soon.
When asked about the decision on the CM face from MVA, he countered the question and asked whether Mahayuti will contest elections with its face of "corruption and betrayal".

Gaikwad isn't new to controversies either. Just last month, a clip of a policeman washing the car of the Shiv Sena MLA had surfaced on social media. Gaikwad later had clarified that the policeman had cleaned the vehicle after vomiting in it.

Back in February, he had claimed that he had hunted a tiger in 1987 and has been wearing its tooth around his neck.

Shortly afterwards, the supposed tiger tooth was sent by the state Forest department to the forensic laboratories for identification and files a prosecution case against Gaikwad under the Wildlife Protection Act.