Mumbai: In what triggered a major political clash in Maharashtra, an MLA of the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde 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.
Often known for controversies, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, who represents the Buldhana seat, has put the BJP-led Maha Yuti dispensation in an embarrassing situation.
As the comments of Gaikwad spread like wildfire, the Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi launched a massive attack on Shinde and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, who calls the shots for the BJP and Ajit Pawar, the President of NCP.
“While he was in foreign soil (in the United States), Gandhi said that he wanted to end the reservation system in India. This has exposed the true face of the Congress. It shows the mindset that is inherently opposed to reservations. I will reward anyone who cuts off Rahul Gandhi's tongue with Rs 11 lakh,” Gaikwad was heard speaking on the viral video.
“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 the United States he said that the reservation given by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, he said they will end the reservation,” he said.
The trio of Shinde-Fadnavis-Pawar had stayed away from commenting on Gaikwad’s statement.
However, the BJP distanced itself from the comments made by the MLA of its ally with the party’s state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule saying: “We do not support the (Shiv Sena MLA’s) statement.”
State Congress President Nana Patole demanded that an offence must be registered against Gaikwad. “The people are watching the goondashahi, hukumshahi and Talibanshahi of this government,” he said.
Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly Vijay Wadettiwar of the Congress and Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council Ambadas Danve of Shiv Sena (UBT) too lashed out at Gaikwad.
“The Shinde-led Shiv Sena is not even worthy of taking Rahul Gandhi’s name… Gaikwad is nothing more than a traitor MLA from a stolen party,” said Wadettiwar.
Congress Legislative Party Leader Balasaheb Thorat said that Gaikwad’s statement against Gandhi mirrors the attitude of the assassins of Mahatma Gandhi.
“The conspiracy to discredit him by putting words in his mouth will never succeed. Nobody dares touch even Rahul Gandhi's hair as crores of Congress workers are his protective shield,” said Thorat.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi, in a post in X, said: “Prime sample of a gaddar ,the blatant abuse of the elected post they hold to incite acts of violence against Rahul Gandhi. The disgraceful home minister of Maharashtra will ignore any action and expecting anything from the traitor CM and his panaas khoke fauj is a joke!”