In UP, bounties are as common as verbal brawls
In Uttar Pradesh, the political discourse isn’t just about verbal brawls, but also about announcing bounties on tongues and heads, rewards ranging between herds of cattle and multiple crores of rupee.
It doesn’t seem to matter that the practice is illegal, that bounty ‘broadcasters’ could be arrested for criminal intimidation. It is often brushed aside as a political gimmick despite being rampant.
“Bounties are flying thick and fast as the administration lacks the will power to take action. It is not only an act of criminal intimidation, but, in case of any consequential attack, the person can be booked for abetment to commitment of crime,” said senior criminal lawyer, IB Singh.
More prevalent in the state’s western parts, it isn’t just individuals that announce bounties. A village once offered 51 buffaloes for director Vinod Kapri because he poked fun at khap panchayats in his movie.
In the recent Dayashankar controversy, in which the ex-BJP leader called Mayawati a prostitute, a `5 lakh was announced for his tongue.
For Nitin Gupta, who offered the reward, the logic of a bounty is simple. “Don’t we demand hanging of the rapist? I was hurt and I offered a bounty on his tongue and also lodged an FIR. Now, I am willing to face the consequences.”
“It’s a way to convey our anger and anguish,” said Satya Prakash Tittal who offered `30,000 to anyone who painted Dayashankar’s face black.
Former director general of police, Sri Ram Arun, said the whole business became a trend only recently. The practice was initially followed by police, who would place bounties on criminals. Only bounty-hunters with a legal permit were allowed to pursue them.
Saying police must crack down on it, Arun noted that people would stop if tough action is initiated.
The trend started about a decade ago, in 2006, when then Samajwadi Party minister Hazi Yaqoob announced a bounty of `1 million on the head of a Danish cartoonist over a caricature of the prophet.
But despite demands for action against Yaqoob, then chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav simply ignored the matter.
Recently, in Allahabad, `10 lakh was announced for Vijay Mallya’s head by Congress workers. Though they even publicized the same across town, carrying posters portraying Mallaya as a bandit and mentioning the cash reward, no action was initiated, either by the party or police.
Announcements of bounties violate the code of ethics, but the Election Commission has rarely ever acted against them.
Political experts say these are frivolous gimmicks employed to make headlines. They are an opportunity for political parties to undermine rivals while also earning a certain amount of notoriety.
After all, in a state hurtling towards its next change in government, publicity is king.
A VILLAGE ONCE OFFERED 51 BUFFALOES FOR DIRECTOR VINOD KAPRI BECAUSE HE POKED FUN AT KHAP PANCHAYATS IN HIS MOVIE