| Bizarre Claim! Rahul Gandhi says Arun Jaitley, who died in 2019, threatened him in 2020 | | |  Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 2: In a statement that has stirred controversy and confusion, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that senior BJP leader and former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had threatened him during his opposition to the Centre’s contentious farm laws. The remark has drawn sharp criticism, as Jaitley had passed away in August 2019, nearly a year before the laws were introduced.
Speaking at the Annual Legal Conclave–2025 in New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi recalled an alleged conversation with Jaitley. “I remember when I was fighting the farm laws, Arun Jaitley ji was sent to threaten me. He told me, ‘If you carry on opposing the government, fighting the farm laws, we will have to act against you.’ I looked at him and said, ‘I don’t think you have an idea who you are talking to,’” Gandhi said.
The claim immediately raised eyebrows, as the three farm laws in question—the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020—were introduced as ordinances in June 2020 and passed by Parliament in September 2020, nearly a year after Jaitley’s death at AIIMS in August 2019 following a prolonged illness.
Political observers and BJP leaders termed the claim factually incorrect and bizarre, questioning how a deceased leader could be involved in events that unfolded after his passing. Critics argue that Gandhi’s comments not only distort the timeline of events but also undermine the seriousness of political discourse.
The farm laws, introduced as part of the Centre’s agricultural reforms, sparked massive protests by farmers, particularly from Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh. Following year-long demonstrations along the borders of Delhi, the government repealed the laws in November 2021.
Rahul Gandhi’s remark has reignited political tensions, with the BJP accusing him of deliberately misleading the public and dragging the name of a respected deceased leader into controversy.
As of now, the Congress party has not issued any clarification regarding the discrepancy in Gandhi’s statement.
Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s bizarre claim son of Arun Jaitley, Rohan Jaitley, reminded the Congress stalwart that his father had died in 2019 and farm laws were passed in 2020.
“Rahul Gandhi now claims my late father, Arun Jaitley, threatened him over the farm laws.
Let me remind him, my father passed away in 2019. The farm laws were introduced in 2020. More importantly, it was not in my father's nature to threaten anyone over an opposing view. He was a staunch democrat and always believed in building consensus. If at all such a situation were to occur, as it often does in politics, he would invite free and open discussions to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to all. That was simply who he was, and that remains his legacy today.
I would appreciate Rahul Gandhi being mindful while speaking of those not with us.
He attempted something similar with Manohar Parrikar ji, politicising his final days, which was in equally poor taste.
Let the departed Rest in Peace”, Rohan posted on X. |
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