Satpal Singh Satti, the chief of Himachal Pradesh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was on Thursday issued a notice by the Mandi District Electoral Officer for his remarks that the hands of those who speak against Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be chopped off.
At a rally in Mandi on Wednesday, Satti had said that he will “chop off the hands” that rise against the PM.
Attacking Congress president Rahul Gandhi without naming him, Satti said, “Wo chowkidar ko is desh ka beimaan bolte hain… Jo hamare baap ko chor bolega usko bhi ham log waese hi bolenge… Saamne neta log baithe hain, agar koi unki oar ungli uthaega, ham log uski baajoo kaat karke uske haath mein pakda denge [He calls the watchman of the entire country, a thief. Whoever calls our father a thief will hear equally derogatory replies from us… BJP leaders are sitting here, if anyone raises a finger at them, we will chop off their hands].”
At the same rally, Satti also said that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could not do much as he was under control of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
According to The Indian Express, Satti said that Manmohan Singh is a “sher (lion) of Punjab” and Sonia Gandhi “Maa (Goddess)”.
“Jis samay sher ke upar maa baithi hoti hai toh sher kuch nahi kar sakta (when the Goddess is riding the lion, the lion cannot do anything),” he reportedly said.
Protesting his remarks, the state Congress said they will file a complaint with the EC.
Calling Satti’s language “unacceptable”, the Congress demanded that the BJP leader be barred from campaigning in the Lok Sabha elections 2019.
Satti had previously been temporarily barred from campaigning.