Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 19: The Congress on Thursday flagged a purported video of a man claiming to be associated with the Karni Sena issuing death threats to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and “25 other MPs”, alleging that the RSS-BJP ecosystem has become a “Godse factory”.
The man, who identified himself as Raj Singh, allegedly threatened to shoot Gandhi and other Congress MPs over claims that they had verbally abused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. He was detained by Kota police.
Superintendent of Police, Kota, Tejaswani Gautam told PTI that the accused was detained at Borkheda police station and is being questioned over the video statement.
In the video, the man claimed that BJP and Karni Sena workers were angered by the alleged conduct of 25 Congress MPs towards the Speaker. “If such an incident occurs again, we will enter the homes of those MPs and vandalize their homes. 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,” he said.
He further warned that if the MPs were not arrested within 24 hours, “we will shoot them all one by one,” while identifying himself as a spokesperson of the Karni Sena.
Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera shared the video on X and lashed out at the BJP, calling the development part of a “calculated and devious plan”.
“The RSS-BJP ecosystem is a ‘Godse factory’. The threat issued by the so-called Karni Sena against Rahul Gandhi and the ‘25 Members of Parliament’ is not an isolated outburst,” Khera said.
He alleged that Union minister Kiren Rijiju had “lied and misled” the nation by claiming that Congress MPs abused the Speaker, a charge Khera said was contradicted by available video footage.
“Then, BJP MPs across platforms began echoing a strikingly similar line: that Rahul Gandhi poses ‘the biggest threat to India’s national security.’ This is a deliberate campaign to demonise the opposition, and legitimise violence against political rivals – especially Rahul Ji,” Khera added.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also criticised the BJP, questioning the silence over the threats.
“I want to ask Om Birla ji, the goon in this video calls himself your supporter from the Karni Sena – Do you have no objection to this video? What is the Home Minister doing? There is pin drop silence even as a goon openly threatens to shoot MPs and the Leader of Opposition,” she said, asking why an FIR had not been registered.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal alleged that the threats were a direct result of what he described as a toxic political culture fostered by the BJP.
“Self-proclaimed Modi bhakts are brazenly issuing death threats against Rahul Gandhi in broad daylight – without any reprimand from the ruling regime,” he said on X.
Venugopal asserted that Gandhi would not be intimidated. “Rahul ji is from the legacy of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, and he has given us all the slogan of ‘Daro Mat!’ He will not be deterred by such cheap trolls and will continue to face each adversary head on,” he added.