Kerala Police have registered an FIR against BJP leader Printu Mahadevan after he allegedly made a shocking death threat remark targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during a live television debate. The controversy erupted when Mahadevan, a former ABVP functionary, claimed that if Gandhi attempted to inspire protests in India similar to those in Bangladesh and Nepal, “bullets will pierce his chest.” The statement, made on September 26 during a Malayalam news channel debate, was immediately condemned by Congress leaders, prompting the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to file a formal complaint. Acting on the complaint, the Peramangalam police in Thrissur invoked multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including criminal intimidation and provocation with intent to cause riots.
The remarks have triggered widespread political backlash across Kerala, with Congress workers staging statewide protests on Monday against both Mahadevan and the BJP. Senior leaders including MP Shafi Parambil and veteran politician Ramesh Chennithala described the comment as not just reckless but a direct incitement to violence against the Opposition leader. AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that such threats cannot be dismissed as “a careless outburst of a petty functionary.” He warned that any delay or hesitation in taking action would be interpreted as complicity at the highest levels, demanding “swift, visible, and severe” legal action.
The incident has come at a politically sensitive moment, with tensions running high between the BJP and Congress in the run-up to upcoming state elections. While the BJP has not issued an official response to Mahadevan’s comments, Congress has signaled that it will escalate the issue both within Parliament and in the public sphere. Political observers note that the case could further sharpen the already polarized political climate in Kerala, where Rahul Gandhi commands significant influence as an MP from Wayanad. The police investigation is ongoing, and all eyes remain on how swiftly the state and central leadership respond to calls for accountability.
