Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad has caused controversy by announcing a bounty of Rs 11 lakh for anyone who “chops off the tongue” of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in response to Gandhi’s remarks on reservations during his recent visit to the United States. Gaikwad, in his statement, accused Gandhi of wanting to end the reservation system, which he claimed revealed the “true face” of the Congress party. He expressed anger, particularly on behalf of communities like the Marathas, Dhangars, and OBCs, who are fighting for reservation benefits.
The controversy stems from comments made by Rahul Gandhi during his US trip, where he suggested that the Congress would consider scrapping reservations only when India becomes a “fair place,” which he argued is not the current situation. Gandhi’s remarks have faced backlash from several political figures. Gaikwad called these comments a “betrayal of the people” and accused Gandhi of spreading a “fake narrative” while holding the Constitution.
However, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule distanced himself from Gaikwad’s remarks, stating that he does not endorse such comments. Bawankule acknowledged the history of opposition to reservations by some Congress leaders, including former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, but condemned the MLA’s extreme remarks.
Gaikwad, representing the Buldhana constituency in Maharashtra, has been involved in past controversies, including a claim in February where he boasted of hunting a tiger and wearing its tooth as a necklace, for which he was charged under the Wildlife Protection Act.
