BJP's Suraj Pal Amu, who offered bounty for Deepika's head, resigns

Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suraj Pal Amu, who reportedly offered a Rs 10 crore bounty for beheading Padmavati actor Deepika Padukone and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, on Wednesday resigned as the chief media coordinator of the state unit of the party.

The resignation comes days after the Haryana unit of the party served a show cause notice to him seeking explanation over his controversial remarks.

In his resignation letter which he forwarded to state BJP chief Subhash Barala over WhatsApp, Amu stated that he was upset over Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar allegedly skipping a meeting with representatives of the Karni Sena on Tuesday.

Though the chief minister’s schedule did not specify any such appointment, the Rajput leader maintained that he had given time for a meeting.

Rajput groups have been protesting against the period drama Padmavati alleging that it distorts historical facts.

Amu stated in his resignation letter that he had worked with full dedication for the party over the past few years, but felt that “CM Khattar does not need dedicated workers and office bearers. Khattar is surrounded by a coterie which is taking him away from dedicated workers for the last three years.”

Amu, however, said that he will continue to work as an ordinary BJP worker.

• PADMAVATI CONTROVERSY on REDIFF

After a youth from Meerut announced Rs 5 crore bounty, Amu had reportedly made remarks about doubling the offer during an event in New Delhi.

“We will reward the ones beheading them with Rs 10 crore and also take care of their family needs...We know very well how to treat those who insult the Rajput community,” Amu had reportedly said.

The Haryana BJP had immediately distanced itself from Amu’s remarks, saying he had made them in his personal capacity.

A show cause notice had been served to him by the party recently and he had been asked to explain the remarks.

At a function of the Rajput community in Delhi recently, Amu had said, “How can we allow somebody to distort history and mislead the people by projecting the heroic character of Rani Padmavati in a poor light while glorifying the villains of history? We will not allow the release of this film at any cost”.

Image: Haryana Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suraj Pal Amu had offered Rs 10 crore to anyone who would behead Deepika Padukone over the film Padmavati. Photograph: ANI/Twitter