BJP man's bounty on Mamata condemned

New Delhi, April 12 (PTI): Parliament on Wednesday strongly condemned a statement by a BJP youth wing leader announcing a Rs 11 lakh bounty to anyone who beheads West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, with the Centre saying the state government was “free to take legal action” against him. Trinamool Congress members raised the issue in both the Houses, and all major political parties and the government condemned the statement. In the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said the state government was free to file a police case and take action. Raising this issue during Zero Hour in the Upper House, TMC member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said a Bharatiya Janata Party youth activist has publicly described West Bengal chief minister as a “demon” and announced Rs 11 lakh bounty for anyone who brings the head of chief minister. Roy asked the House and the government to condemn this incident, saying “a constitutionally elected CM has been described as demon.” He said the Centre was trying to “unleash a reign of terror” in West Bengal in the name of religion and other things. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said: “I strongly condemn such type of statements. State government is free to take appropriate legal action on this issue”. Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati termed it as a “serious matter” and said “BJP should not just condemn the statement, but should also take action.” Other opposition parties including Congress, Left and Samajwadi Party, also supported TMC on this issue. BJP member Roopa Ganguly said she too was a woman and “I was beaten up by 17 goons of TMC in front of policemen. The chief minister … should answer this.” In the Lok Sabha too, all sides condemned the BJP youth leader's bounty, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar saying such a statement by anyone was completely wrong and the government strongly condemns it. ”She is an elected chief minister and due respect must be given to her. We strongly condemn it,” Kumar said. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said there have been many unpleasant incidents in the political discourse in recent past and everyone must work together to improve it. “This is complete wrong. All sides must exercise restraint,” she said. Raising the issue soon after the House assembled to take up the day's business, TMC member Saugata Roy said “Mamata Banerjee is not only an elected chief minister but a former member of this House too. It is a serious and alarming behaviour and the House must condemn it. She is a grass root leader and government must take action on it.” Fully supporting Roy, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said his party fully associated with the sentiment and such incident must not happen anywhere. ”A strong message should go from the government against such behaviour and action must be taken against the guilty,” Kharge said.