Kota Police Detain Man Over Alleged Death Threats to Rahul Gandhi and Congress MPs
In a significant development, Rajasthan police detained a man in Kota on Thursday following allegations that he uploaded a video issuing death threats against Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, along with 25 other MPs from the party. The incident has sparked widespread concern and political reactions.
Details of the Threatening Video
According to police reports, the accused identified himself as Raj Singh in the video, claiming to be a spokesperson for the right-wing group Karni Sena. He issued the threats in response to a recent incident in the Lok Sabha, alleging that BJP and Karni Sena workers were angered by what he described as verbal abuse directed at Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by 25 Congress MPs during the first part of the Budget session of Parliament.
In the purported video, Singh made explicit threats, warning that if such an incident occurred again, they would "enter the homes" of the MPs and vandalise them. He directly targeted Rahul Gandhi, stating, "I believe this incident occurred on Rahul Gandhi's orders. Rahul Gandhi, listen carefully, if such an incident occurs again, we will barge into your home and shoot you." Additionally, he demanded the arrest of the 25 MPs within 24 hours, threatening to "shoot them all one by one" if his demands were not met.
Police Action and Investigation
After the video surfaced on social media, Kota police swiftly took action. Superintendent of Police Tejaswani Gautam confirmed to news agency PTI that the man has been detained at the Borkheda police station and is currently being questioned in connection with the video. The video reportedly showed a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Speaker Om Birla shaking hands displayed on the wall behind the accused, adding a layer of political symbolism to the threats.
Denials from BJP and Karni Sena
Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Karni Sena have distanced themselves from the individual. BJP Kota city president Rakesh Jain clarified that the party has no connection with the person seen in the viral video, emphasizing that "the BJP is a disciplined party committed to nation-building. This type of language and conduct are completely contrary to our ideology and moral values." Similarly, a senior Karni Sena leader stated that the accused does not have any link with the organisation. Police have indicated that further investigation is underway to ascertain the full context and motives behind the threats.
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
Reacting to the alleged death threats, Congress MP KC Venugopal criticized the political atmosphere, stating, "See the atmosphere which is created by the BJP ecosystem and the Sangh parivar ecosystem. They are not even allowing Rahul Gandhi to speak in Parliament. They are not honouring the Leader of the Opposition... The Sangha Pariwar system is saying that they will go and kill Rahul Gandhi along with 25 MPs. No FIRs have been registered. This is a clear case of anarchy." He added that the Congress party is prepared to protect its leaders, underscoring Rahul Gandhi's resilience.
This incident highlights ongoing tensions in Indian politics, particularly concerning parliamentary decorum and security for opposition figures. It raises questions about the use of social media for issuing threats and the broader implications for political discourse in the country.
