Death Threat to Rahul Gandhi by BJP leader

The Congress party has raised the alarm over what it describes as a “chilling death threat” directed at Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, during a televised debate. In a strongly worded letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress general secretary (organisation) K. C. Venugopal warned that the government’s failure to take immediate action against those responsible would amount to tacit approval of violence against one of India’s most prominent political figures. At the centre of the controversy is Printu Mahadev, a former state president of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). During a live debate on a Malayalam news channel, Mahadev allegedly declared that “Rahul Gandhi will be shot in the chest.” Venugopal claimed that Mahadev currently serves as a spokesperson for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), describing the remarks as neither an accidental slip nor rhetorical exaggeration, but rather a “cold and calculated death threat.”

Venugopal’s letter argued that such comments strike at the very heart of constitutional governance and the rule of law. “That such poisonous words are uttered by an official spokesperson of the ruling party not only places the life of Rahul Gandhi in immediate danger, but also undermines the Constitution, rule of law, and the basic security assurances owed to every citizen — let alone the Leader of Opposition,” he wrote.

Security Concerns and Alleged Conspiracy

The Congress leader underscored that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), responsible for Rahul Gandhi’s security, has repeatedly warned of threats to his life. He further noted that a classified letter on the subject, sent by the CRPF to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, was inexplicably leaked to the media. Venugopal suggested that the leak itself hinted at a deeper conspiracy to compromise Gandhi’s safety and desensitise the public to the possibility of violence against him. Linking the remarks to a broader trend, Venugopal accused BJP-linked social media platforms of amplifying and legitimising calls for violence. He said the latest incident “carries the stench of a larger, sinister conspiracy being cultivated to validate violence against Rahul Gandhi,” framing the threat as symptomatic of an increasingly toxic political culture.

A Family Scarred by Assassinations

The Congress party has placed the episode in the context of Rahul Gandhi’s family history, emphasising that his life is already marked by the shadow of political assassinations. His grandmother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was killed by her bodyguards in 1984, while his father, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated in 1991 during an election campaign. “Rahul Gandhi is a living embodiment of service and steadfast commitment to India’s pluralistic ethos,” Venugopal wrote, portraying him as the custodian of a legacy built on sacrifice. He stressed that any threat to Gandhi should be treated not merely as a personal danger but as an attack on democratic values and the political freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.

Political Fallout and Calls for Action

The Congress has demanded swift and exemplary legal action against Mahadev through the state police. Venugopal cautioned that any delay or failure to act would be interpreted as complicity on the part of the Union government, amounting to the “legitimisation of violence against the Leader of Opposition.” He added that such inaction would be a grave dereliction of Amit Shah’s constitutional responsibility as home minister. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera echoed these concerns, suggesting that the “deliberate leakage” of Rahul Gandhi’s security correspondence pointed towards a larger conspiracy. “By politicising the sensitive issue of security of a leader who has lost two members of his family to assassinations, this regime is playing with fire,” Khera said.

The controversy has also provoked strong reactions in Kerala, where Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, V. D. Satheesan, criticised the state government and police for their failure to act promptly against Mahadev.

More Than a Personal Threat

For the Congress, the episode symbolises a growing climate of intolerance in Indian politics, where threats of violence are no longer dismissed as fringe rhetoric but are increasingly mainstreamed. Venugopal argued that the threat to Rahul Gandhi was not an isolated provocation but part of a wider, dangerous narrative in which political opponents are vilified, dehumanised, and rendered legitimate targets for violence. Whether the Union government responds with decisive action or dismisses the incident as political theatre will determine how this controversy unfolds. For now, Congress is framing the issue as a test of the BJP’s commitment to democratic norms and the safety of those who challenge its dominance.

With inputs from agencies

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