Congress files police complaint against BJP leaders over threats against Rahul Gandhi

The Congress on Wednesday, 18 September filed a police complaint over the recent statements of leaders belonging to the ruling NDA targeting Rahul Gandhi, alleging that they were aimed at jeopardising his security and disturbing peace in view of the polls in Jammu and Kashmir, and Haryana.

In the complaint submitted to the SHO of the Tughlaq Road police station by AICC treasurer and general secretary Ajay Maken, the Congress cited the recent remarks by BJP leaders Tarvinder Singh Marwah, Ravneet Singh Bittu and Raghuraj Singh, as well as that of Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad.

Maken sought registration of FIRs against the leaders.

Speaking with the media after filing the complaint, Maken said, "We all know that late Indira Gandhi ji and late Rajiv ji have sacrificed their lives for the country. Even after that, they are giving such threats."

Politics in India cannot stoop to a lower level than this, he said. Not just one BJP leader, but many leaders have said such things, but BJP did not take any action, he said.

"Rahul Gandhi talks about SC, ST, OBC, tribal and minority people. That is why BJP people do not like his words. This is the reason why they are threatening him," he said.

"But let me tell you -- this is the Congress party and we are not going to be scared or cowed down," Maken said.

In the police complaint, Maken said, "On September 11, Marwah in a BJP event openly issued an assassination threat against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, wherein he said that 'Rahul Gandhi baaz aaja, nahi toh aane wale time mein tera bhi wohi haal hoga jo teri dadi ka haal hua (you better behave, or you will meet the same fate as your grandmother)'".

It also cited Sena MLA Gaikwad's announcement of a bounty of Rs 11 lakh for anyone who will cut the tongue of the Leader of Opposition. The complaint cited Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu's remarks, calling the Leader of Opposition the "number one terrorist of the country".

"Bittu deliberately made the statement to provoke public hatred and outrage against Mr Gandhi, with the aim to incite violence and breach of peace. The said statement was widely publicised on TV channels and social media," the complaint said.

It cited Uttar Pradesh government minister Raghuraj Singh's remarks that Gandhi was the "number one terrorist of India".

"The above statements/ threats issued by various BJP Leaders and its allies, calling for assassination and/or bodily injury onto Rahul Gandhi and also calling the Leader of Opposition of the country a terrorist, exhibits personal hatred by the BJP/NDA alliance partners against Gandhi," the complaint said.

Such utterances are made only with the aim to cause unrest among the general masses to provoke rioting, and breach of peace through the hate-filled remarks, the Congress said in its complaint.

Gandhi has been continuously raising issues pertaining to deprived sections of the society such as women, youth, Dalits and other marginalised sections and the failure of the BJP to address such public-centric issues, the Congress said.

However, the same has not gone down well with the BJP and its allies, therefore the above-named people have been deputed to make such "hate-filled" comments on the Leader of Opposition of India, the Congress alleged.

"Further, through the said events, the leaders of BJP/its allies, intend to jeopardise the safety and security of the Leader of Opposition, as well as, seek to disturb public peace throughout the country, especially in view of the ongoing elections in the state of Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana," the complaint read.

Not only have the leaders made the statements but also played an active role, through their associates, in spreading the same among the general public through social media and other means, to deliberately incite public aggression or outrage against Gandhi and supporters or members of the Congress on basis of false, untrue, motivated and hate-filled statements, it said.

"Hence, it is imperative that an FIR under relevant provisions of the BNS, 2023 be registered immediately, without any delay," the party said.

"In addition to the above, it is also stated that calling the Leader of Opposition of India, a 'terrorist', 'number one terrorist' etc. not only undermines the public office he holds but the above-named persons deliberately seek to obstruct Rahul Gandhi in discharge of his public duties," the party said.

"The above intentional and well-thought acts of criminal intimidation, public mischief are deliberate attempts by BJP/NDA leaders to create enmity, breach of peace, incite aggression, hatred and ill-will among the general public against Rahul Gandhi, the Congress and its leaders on the instructions of top bosses of the BJP/NDA," the complaint said.

"In view of the above, the above-named persons, all connected with a common thread to the ruling BJP, hatched a well-planned criminal conspiracy, with other known/unknown associates to commit the above acts.

"Accordingly, I request you to register an FIR, inter-alia, u/s 351, 352, 353, 61 of BNS, at the earliest, against the above-named persons and their associates," the complaint by Maken said.