Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Credit: X/@INCIndia
Mumbai: Days after Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad announced a bounty of Rs 11 lakh to anyone who chops of the tongue of Rahul Gandhi for the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha’s comments in the United States on the reservation, BJP MP Anil Bonde has made similar similar remarks saying that his tongue should be inflicted burns.
A former minister, Bonde is a BJP Rajya Sabha member and hails from Amravati district of Maharashtra.
“Gaikwad’s language of cutting off tongue is not appropriate…What Rahul Gandhi spoke about reservation is shocking. If someone goes abroad and talks like a fool, then his tongue should be ‘chatka’ (inflicted burns),” Bonde said.
According to him, similar treatment for author Dnyanesh Maharao or anti-superstition activist Shyam Manav.
The statement has come as a major embarrassment to the ruling BJP-led Maha Yuti.
State BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said that the party does not support the statements of Bonde and Gaikwad.
Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, who is the Shiv Sena chief leader and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP and Ajit Pawar, the NCP president, have not yet reacted to the issue.
However, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi launched a scathing attack on the ruling alliance.
Leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar of the Congress said that Bonde is speaking about Gandhi, who is talking about protecting the constitution and demanding caste-wise census. “Leaders after leaders of Maha Yuti are making provocative statements,” he said, adding: “Gandhi's stance of saving the constitution and demand for a caste-wise census is taking a political toll on the BJP and its allies. That is why MP Anil Bonde and MLA Sanjay Gaikwad are using such language about Rahul Gandhi due to depression.”
Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat said that the BJP has “muddied” the politics of Maharashtra.
“The business of ending the rich political tradition of progressive Maharashtra started in 2014 is going to a lower level every day,” he said, adding: “Members of BJP and Shiv Sena are tarnishing tarnishing the political tradition of Maharashtra every day and Shinde and Fadnavis are giving silent support.”
Reacting to the statement, NCP (SP) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said: “BJP and its ally leaders seem sick in their mind and need treatment for mental health. First MLA Sanjay Gaikwad and now MP Anil Bonde have made violent statements against Rahul Gandhi. Both Gaikwad and Bonde are public representatives and are talking about violence. They must be booked by law,” he said.