BJP leader announced Rs 11 lakh booty for 'Mamata's head', TMC miffed

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress today raised the issue of reported "threats" to the life of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and took strong objections that one BJP leader from the State has announced booty of Rs 11-lakh for the 'head' of Trinamool Congress chief. The issue was raised in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour by Dum Dum Member of Parliament Saugata Roy.

He said such statements should be condemned in strongest term. The Member's contentions were supported by several other Members including from Congress and CPI-M. "Mamata Banerjee is not only a popular and elected Chief Minister. She is also a former Member of the House," Mr Roy said.

Among others P Karunakaran and A Sampath of CPI-M were up on their feet and tried to say something. Congress member Jyotiraditya Scindia said the government should not only condemn such remarks but should also take appropriate action against such individuals.

Congress floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge said such threats against a "woman Chief Minister" was uncalled for and should be condemned. Making a brief intervention amid the din, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said, "Such statements from any individual is wrong and is condemned". Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said this is not for the first time such statements have come. "Often such statements are heard from either side.

These are wrong," she said adding "as people's representatives we also must apply restraint". BJP youth leader Yogesh Varshney reportedly issued the outrageous threat while hitting out at the Chief Minister over police "lathi-charge" on a rally held on Sunday to mark Hanuman Jayanti in Birbhum, around 180 km from Kolkata.

Alleging that people were beaten up brutally by the police, the youth leader described the Chief Minister as a "demon" and reportedly said, "When I saw the video, I only had one thought... that if anyone gets me Mamata Banerjee's head I will give him 11 lakh". (UNI)