In the letter, Venugopal flagged what he called a “scary and heinous” death threat against Rahul Gandhi from Printu Mahadev, former president of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS.
Venugopal claimed that Mahadev was a spokesperson for the BJP and made the remarks during a televised debate on a Malayalam channel.
“In a brazen act of inciting violence, Mr. Mahadev openly declared that ‘Rahul Gandhi will be shot in the chest’. This is neither a slip of the tongue nor reckless hyperbole. This is a cold, calculated and chilling death threat against the leader of the opposition and one of India’s foremost political leaders,” Venugopal said.
“For such poisonous words to be uttered by an official spokesperson of the ruling party not only puts the life of Rahul Gandhi in immediate danger, but also undermines the Constitution, the rule of law and the fundamental security guarantees owed to every citizen – let alone the leader of the opposition,” the Congress general secretary in-charge said.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), responsible for Rahul Gandhi’s security, has written several letters regarding threats to his security, Venugopal said.
“Shockingly, one such letter addressed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was leaked to the media under mysterious circumstances, raising serious questions about the intention behind the move.
“In this context, it is not only alarming but utterly reprehensible that a BJP spokesperson felt emboldened enough to issue a naked and open death threat that carries the odor of a larger and sinister conspiracy cultivated to validate violence against Rahul Gandhi,” Venugopal said.
Besides, there have been multiple instances of death threats and calls for violence against Rahul Gandhi being propagated through various social media platforms supported or linked to the BJP, he claimed.
“It is now your responsibility to clarify the values of your party and the government. Do you openly support the policies of criminal intimidation, death threats and violence that are poisoning Indian public life,” Venugopal demanded.
The Congress and the millions of Indians who consider Rahul Gandhi as the defender of their rights are gravely concerned about the imminent danger to his life, he said.
“Rahul Gandhi is a living embodiment of service and an unwavering commitment to India’s pluralistic ethos. He carries on the legacy of a family that sacrificed immensely for this nation – from Indira Gandhi, assassinated in 1984 while championing national unity, to Rajiv Gandhi, martyred in 1991 amid his efforts for peace and modernization,” he said.
A death threat against Rahul Gandhi is not just an attack on an individual but an attack on the democratic spirit that he represents, Venugopal added.
“This threat is not just a reckless outburst from a petty official; it is symptomatic of a deliberately cultivated and toxic atmosphere of hatred that leaves the LoP vulnerable to senseless violence.
“As such, any failure on your part to act promptly, decisively and publicly will be seen as complicity – a de facto license for the legitimization and normalization of violence against the Leader of the Opposition and a serious violation of your oath as Union Home Minister,” Venugopal said.
The nation demands immediate and exemplary judicial action through the state police so that justice is swift, visible and severe, he said.
Pawan Khera, head of the Congress’ media and publicity department, said: “This is not just a one-off threat to Rahul Gandhi’s life. The letter written on Rahul Ji’s security by the government to Kharge Ji and the deliberate leaking of its contents makes it look like a conspiracy. A sensitive issue of security for a leader who lost two family members to assassinations, this regime is playing with fire, he said.
Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly VD Satheesan on Saturday slammed the state government and police for failing to act against the leader who allegedly threatened Rahul Gandhi.
