The Bharatiya Janta Party leader, who stole the headlines before the release of the ever so controversial Bollywood movie ‘Padmavat’, Suraj Pal Amu, is set to be back in BJP. The Haryana BJP leader’s resignation was rejected by the party.
“It’s like coming back to my home,” Amu told news agency ANI on October 8, reported The Indian Express. He came into the limelight after he announced a Rs 10 crore bounty for anyone who would behead Deepika Padukone and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
He further added “I had resigned from different posts of Bharatiya Janata Party Haryana Unit many months back and today Haryana BJP chief Subhash Barala has rejected it. For about 29-30 years I have been at different posts in the party and its student wing. These were very tough 8 months for me to stay away from the party, however, I kept working in different social organisations. It is like a homecoming for me.”
The Karni Sena head was issued a show-cause notice by Subhash Barala when he made the controversial remarks before the release of the film in November 2017. He was arrested and later released on bail in January by Gurugram Police.
Other ‘colourful’ members of BJP
Suraj Pal Amu’s reintegration in the party has opened up a can of worms. Reportedly, it seems BJP has a knack for providing people a ‘safe haven’ in the party even when they have had criminal cases including that of rape and monetary fraud against them. Not just that, many reports have come out where prominent BJP leaders have made controversial statements and have gotten away with it.
Kuldeep Singh Sengar: Kuldeep Singh Sengar, a BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh along with his brother, was accused of raping a teenage girl. An FIR was registered against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) act. On April 8, the girl, along with her family, had attempted suicide outside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s Lucknow residence.
After drawing flak for their lackadaisical attitude in handling the case, an FIR was registered on April 12.
Sakshi Maharaj: Self-proclaimed ‘Godman’ and five-time BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj, too has a tainted past. Not only did a few of his disciple accuse him of rape, but he also had a murder charge against him. In April 2013, Maharaj and his brother were accused of murdering Sujata Verma, a member of the UP state women’s commission.
He also had to spend a month in Tihar jail for the rape charges against him. He is also known for making various controversial statements. In January 2017, he said that India’s population problem was due to Muslims having four wives and 40 children.
“There are problems in the country because of population growth. Hindus are not responsible for that. Those responsible are the ones who talk of four wives and 40 children,” he said, reported The Indian Express.
Mukul Roy: On November 2017, Mukul Roy, who was one of the founding leaders of Trinamool Congress, joined BJP. This decision to join BJP came a few weeks after Enforcement Directorate (ED) had summoned him in connection with the Narada sting case.
The Narada sting operation was conducted by Narada News CEO Mathew Samuel in 2014, where several TMC leaders were seen taking money in exchange for favours.
The Logical Indian Take
This issue is broader than a single party. Any elected representative should be held accountable for his/her controversial words and actions. After all, these people can potentially influence thousands of people by virtue of their position.
Also Read: BJP MLA Offers To “Kidnap Girls” Who Deny Marriage Proposals, Later Says He Was Misunderstood
