The Congress party has intensified its attack against the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) following alarming death threats targeting Rahul Gandhi. The party alleges that those facing an ideological crisis are conspiring to silence the Leader of the Opposition. The provocative comments came after former ABVP leader Printu Mahadev openly threatened Gandhi during a televised debate.
Pawan Khera, in charge of the Congress media department, stated on Monday that a BJP spokesperson declared on TV, “Rahul Gandhi will be shot in the chest,” and expressed concerns over the lack of consequent action against such claims. Khera questioned the politicization of Gandhi’s safety following a leaked letter from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which raised concerns about his security.
“This reeks of a conspiracy,” Khera asserted, calling for transparency on who is behind this threatening environment. He indicated that those orchestrating this intimidation are the same individuals struggling to defend their ideological stance against Gandhi’s critiques.
Khera noted, “Your theft has been caught red-handed, and now you cannot bear to see that people from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are uniting around the issues raised by Gandhi.” He firmly stated that the Congress party will not allow violence to be used as a tool of suppression.
In his social media post, Khera drew parallels between the current threats against Gandhi and historical incidents of violence against political adversaries, saying, “Every time the RSS fails to defeat the ideology of India, their foot soldiers resort to physical violence.”
Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal added more pressure on the BJP government by writing to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Venugopal highlighted that failure to act against Mahadev’s remarks could signal complicity in inciting violence against Gandhi, which endangers his life as well as breaches constitutional guarantees for all citizens.
“This is not just a slip of tongue but a chilling declaration of intent aimed at one of India’s principal political figures,” Venugopal remarked. He condemned the normalization of such threats, stating it threatens the very essence of democracy and undermines public safety.
Venugopal’s letter emphasized the need for immediate and effective legal action to ensure that those who issue death threats face justice promptly. “We expect you to take responsibility for clarifying the stance of your party regarding such violence and intimidation tactics,” he said, citing the potential repercussions of failing to acknowledge such threats seriously.
Reflecting the concerns of many in the opposition, Venugopal concluded, “A death threat against Rahul Gandhi is not just an attack on an individual. It represents an assault on the democratic spirit, a principle that should be strong in our nation.”
As the political landscape heats up ahead of impending elections, the rising tension surrounding Gandhi’s safety has put the Congress party at the forefront of a debate over ideological battles, safety, and the health of democratic practices in India. The Congress leadership calls for public outcry and demands protection for their leader as they accuse the ruling party of failing to protect political expression while resorting to intimidation tactics.
