BJP Spokesperson’s Death Threat Against Rahul Gandhi on Live TV Sparks Outrage, Congress Demands Action
New Delhi – September 29, 2025 – A Kerala BJP spokesperson’s chilling threat to “shoot Rahul Gandhi in the chest” during a live television debate has ignited a firestorm of condemnation, with the Indian National Congress accusing the ruling party of endorsing a culture of violence and intimidation. The inflammatory remark, made by Printu Mahadev on News18 Kerala late Saturday, September 27, 2025, has prompted the Congress to demand urgent intervention from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while raising alarms about the safety of the Leader of Opposition and the state of political discourse in India.
The Incident Unfolds
The controversy erupted during a heated panel discussion on News18 Kerala, centered on escalating tensions in Ladakh and Rahul Gandhi’s accusations that the BJP-RSS combine was undermining the region’s indigenous communities through aggressive policies. Printu Mahadev, identified as a BJP spokesperson and former state president of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), responded to a Congress panelist’s remarks with a shocking declaration: “Rahul Gandhi will be shot in the chest.” The statement, delivered amidst a charged exchange, stunned the studio, prompting anchors to intervene as co-panelists expressed immediate outrage.
Video footage of the incident, which has since gone viral with millions of views on platforms like X and YouTube, captures Mahadev’s unapologetic demeanor, with the debate grinding to a halt as moderators attempted to restore order. Eyewitnesses to the broadcast described the moment as “chilling,” with social media amplifying the clip alongside hashtags like #JusticeForRahul and #BJPThreatens. The remark has been widely decried as a direct incitement to violence, escalating concerns about the safety of political figures in an already polarized climate.
Congress Responds with Fury
The Congress party swiftly condemned the threat, with general secretary K.C. Venugopal penning a scathing letter to Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday, September 28. Labeling Mahadev’s statement a “heinous act of incitement,” Venugopal demanded “immediate and exemplary legal action” through the Kerala Police, arguing that the threat was not a mere rhetorical flourish but a deliberate call to violence against the Leader of Opposition. He invoked the assassinations of former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi (1984) and Rajiv Gandhi (1991), underscoring the Gandhi family’s history of sacrifice and warning that inaction would signal the government’s “complicity in normalizing violence.”
Venugopal’s letter also referenced prior security concerns, including a leaked Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) alert to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge about threats to Gandhi’s life and a surge in vitriolic social media posts from BJP-linked accounts. “Is this the BJP’s vision for India—a politics rooted in criminal intimidation and death threats?” he wrote, urging Shah to ensure accountability and protect democratic norms.
On X, the Congress amplified its outrage, posting: “THE BJP HAS CROSSED ALL LIMITS! The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the heinous DEATH THREAT issued to LoP Shri Rahul Gandhi on live TV by BJP spokesperson Printu Mahadev.” The party’s youth wing and Sevadal echoed the sentiment, with the latter stating, “BJP crosses all its limits, its spokesperson Pintu Mahadev openly gives death threat to LoP Shri Rahul Gandhi ji on live TV!” Congress spokesperson Srivatsa Yalamanchili added: “The leader of the opposition is being given a death threat on live television by a spokesperson of the ruling party BJP.”
BJP’s Silence and Public Backlash
As of Monday, September 29, 2025, the BJP has issued no official statement distancing itself from Mahadev or condemning his remarks, a silence that Congress leaders and netizens have branded as tacit approval. Public reaction on social media has been fierce, with users like Dipayan Kar labeling the BJP a “party of criminals and killers” and others demanding Mahadev’s arrest and expulsion from the party. Comments on news portals and X posts have called for swift legal repercussions to deter further escalations of political rhetoric into violence.
Kerala Police have yet to confirm whether a formal complaint has been lodged, though Congress sources indicate a case is being prepared under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for criminal intimidation and incitement. The incident comes at a sensitive time, with Kerala gearing up for local elections where the BJP is intensifying its campaign against the Congress-led UDF and CPI(M)-led LDF, often employing polarizing narratives.
Political Context and Rahul Gandhi’s Stance
Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli and a vocal critic of the BJP’s policies, has been at the forefront of opposition efforts to highlight issues like Ladakh’s autonomy, economic inequality, and alleged RSS-driven divisiveness. His recent remarks accusing the BJP of “attacking” Ladakh’s indigenous communities reportedly provoked Mahadev’s outburst. Congress insiders describe Gandhi as “resolute” in the face of the threat, viewing it as a sign of the BJP’s “desperation” amid growing opposition momentum. Gandhi has not publicly commented on the incident, but party leaders say he remains focused on his advocacy.
A Broader Warning
The episode underscores deepening fault lines in India’s political landscape, where heated rhetoric increasingly risks spilling into real-world consequences. The threat follows other recent incidents of hostility toward Gandhi, including social media campaigns and alleged BJP-linked provocations. Observers note that the lack of immediate BJP condemnation could embolden further aggression, raising questions about the state’s ability to protect public figures and maintain democratic decorum.
As the nation awaits a response from the BJP and potential legal action from Kerala authorities, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of civil discourse in a polarized era. For now, the Congress is rallying its base, vowing to pursue justice and hold the ruling party accountable for what it calls a dangerous precedent in Indian politics.
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