Congress stages protest in Thrissur after BJP leader allegedly threatens Rahul Gandhi
The controversy began during a News18 Kerala debate, where the leader remarked that “a bullet will pierce Rahul Gandhi’s chest.”
The controversy began during a News18 Kerala debate, where the leader remarked that “a bullet will pierce Rahul Gandhi’s chest.”
The controversy began during a News18 Kerala debate, where the leader remarked that “a bullet will pierce Rahul Gandhi’s chest.”
Thrissur: The Congress on Monday intensified its attack on the BJP and RSS after Printu Mahadev, a former ABVP leader, allegedly made a death threat against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during a televised debate. In response, Congress workers staged a protest march to the house of the BJP leader. As workers tried to push through barricades, police deployed water cannons to disperse them.
The controversy began during a News18 Kerala debate on Friday, where Mahadev allegedly remarked that “a bullet will pierce Rahul Gandhi’s chest.” KPCC Secretary Adv CR Pranakumar lodged a complaint with the State Police Chief, calling for immediate legal action and probing whether the comment indicated a broader conspiracy. Peramangalam police have registered a case based on the complaint. The party described the remark as a “chilling and heinous” conspiracy to silence Gandhi, accusing the ruling party of normalising violence.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said Mahadev’s statement was not a slip of the tongue but a calculated threat. He criticised the Kerala Police for inaction and revealed that he had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging immediate legal steps. “There is a clear threat from a BJP spokesperson. We believe this is part of a bigger conspiracy,” Venugopal said, adding that no response had yet been received from Shah.
Party leaders also drew attention to previous concerns over Gandhi’s safety. Media and publicity head Pawan Khera said the CRPF had earlier flagged security issues in a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, which was then leaked, politicising Gandhi’s security. He argued that the recent threat reflects an orchestrated attempt to create an unsafe environment for the opposition leader.
Khera claimed those “losing the ideological battle” were resorting to intimidation. He accused the BJP of first using verbal abuse against Gandhi and now escalating to threats of violence. “This is a conspiracy to silence Rahul Gandhi and the issues he raises. Your theft has been caught red-handed, and your time has passed,” he said.
Venugopal, in his letter to Shah, also described Mahadev’s statement as a brazen act of incitement. He warned that any delay in action would amount to complicity and a licence for political violence. “This is not merely a threat to one individual but an assault on democracy itself,” he stated.
(With inputs from PTI)