The Congress on Friday condemned as a “Talibani act” the bounty of Rs 1 crore announced on Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu by a Hindu Yuva Vahini leader and asked the outfit’s mentor, Yogi Adityanath, to explain his position.
The Vahini, formed by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath 16 years ago, hasn’t formally issued any threat but its Agra unit chief Tarun Singh had on Thursday announced a reward of Rs 1 crore for “beheading” Sidhu.
Sidhu had described Yogi as the biggest bhogi (hedonist). The Punjab minister had also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a recent election campaign.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Friday: “Ajay Singh Bisht (Adityanath’s original name) should clarify whether he supports the Talibani threat. He should explain whether this goondaism of his outfit will run the country now. Will an opponent’s head be cut in his regime? Will he behave like Aurangzeb?”
Sidhu tweeted: “This is how PM Modi & Co are killing the spirit of democracy by threatening, intimidating, jailing people or silencing the voices like (slain journalist) Gauri Lankesh…. Instead of Lok Tantra, it is Danda tantra and Gunda tantra.”
