Uttar Pradesh BJP Leader Announces ₹1 Crore Bounty on TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh

Dr. Pradeep Dixit, Chairman of the Sikandrabad Nagar Palika Parishad and a prominent local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in western Uttar Pradesh after  made a highly inflammatory public statement offering a reward of ₹1 crore for the beheading of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament Saayoni Ghosh.

The remark, delivered during a protest event organised by Hindu organisations, quickly went viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage from opposition parties and calls for strict action against the civic body chief.

According to reports, the incident occurred amid a 3,100 kilometer padyatra (foot march) being undertaken by Hindu groups in protest against an alleged derogatory social media post by Saayoni Ghosh concerning Lord Shiva and the Shivling. Addressing a gathering in Sikandrabad, Dr. Dixit, who claimed to be a daily devotee of Lord Shiva, expressed deep anguish over the purported insult to Hindu sentiments.

In his speech, Dixit reportedly declared: “Whoever brings the head of TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh will be given a cash reward of ₹1 crore by me.” The video clip of the statement has circulated widely, intensifying the debate.

Opposition parties, including the TMC and Congress, have strongly condemned the statement, describing it as a direct threat and an attempt to incite violence. They have demanded immediate intervention by the Uttar Pradesh government and police action under relevant sections of the BNS for hate speech and promoting enmity. TMC leaders have also highlighted the issue as reflective of a broader pattern of targeting their party workers and leaders.

BJP officials have so far maintained silence on the matter at the state or national level, with no official comment issued by senior party functionaries. Local administration in Bulandshahr is yet to issue any statement regarding potential legal proceedings or an FIR against Dr. Dixit.

This episode comes at a time of heightened political tensions between the BJP and TMC, particularly over issues related to religious sentiments and governance in West Bengal with the shift in politics. BJP wrested power from Mamata Banerjee to form their first government in the state. Saayoni Ghosh, a first-time MP, has been vocal on several issues and has also been a vocal critique of Modi government. Interestingly the the post that Dr Dixit found objectionable was made by Ghosh many many years back, much before she became the MP in 2024 election.