Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed outrage Wednesday over a reported death threat by a BJP-affiliated leader against Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, demanding whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah condone such remarks. The alleged statement, made during a television debate, claimed Gandhi would be “shot in the chest” for aspiring to foment protests akin to those in Bangladesh and Nepal, intensifying political tensions in India as inflammatory rhetoric fuels concerns over democratic discourse ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
In a post on X at 10:30 AM IST, Siddaramaiah called the comment by Printu Mahadevan, a former Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) leader, a “shocking” death threat targeting Gandhi for his vocal criticism of the BJP and its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). “The silence of @narendramodi and @AmitShah naturally leads everyone to wonder whether they, too, endorse this view,” he wrote, accusing the BJP of a pattern of silencing dissent through intimidation and violence.
Citing historical assassinations—including Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 and rationalists Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar, M.M. Kalburgi, and journalist Gauri Lankesh—he alleged the Sangh Parivar’s complicity, despite their denials, claiming “bloodstains on their hands” persist. Siddaramaiah, himself a recipient of past death threats, vowed resilience, asserting that “evil forces will bow before justice.”
The controversy arose from a Tuesday evening debate on Asianet News, where Mahadevan reportedly argued that India’s support for Modi precludes unrest seen abroad, warning Gandhi against similar ambitions with the threat: “Bullets will pierce his chest; beware!” The clip, widely shared online, prompted swift action from the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
KPCC secretary Sreekumar C.C. filed a complaint, leading to Mahadevan’s arrest by Peramangalam police under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for criminal intimidation (Section 351) and promoting enmity (Section 353). Released on bail hours later, Mahadevan faces ongoing investigations, with police reviewing debate footage and witness statements to assess intent and context.
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Siddaramaiah framed the incident within the Gandhi family’s tragic history, noting the assassinations of Indira Gandhi (1984) and Rajiv Gandhi (1991), and rallied support: “Rahul Gandhi is not alone; he has millions of workers and citizens.” BJP leaders have distanced themselves, labelling Mahadevan’s remarks personal, while Congress demands accountability, citing a 30% rise in hate speech cases in 2024 per NCRB data.
As Kerala police deepen their probe, the episode reignites calls for stricter enforcement against inflammatory rhetoric, with the Supreme Court’s 2023 guidelines on hate speech under scrutiny amid India’s polarised political landscape.
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