Congress slams BJP panelist’s alleged ‘death threat’ to Rahul Gandhi in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress party in Kerala has strongly condemned the alleged threat made against Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi by a BJP panelist during a televised debate, demanding immediate legal action.
The controversy erupted after Printu Mahadev, a former ABVP leader appearing for the BJP, reportedly said during a debate on News18 Kerala regarding the recent Ladakh violence, that “Rahul Gandhi will be shot in the chest,” as reported by The Indian Express on Sunday.
Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala urged the Kerala police to immediately register a case against Mahadev. “A BJP spokesperson has openly raised death threats against the Lok Sabha Opposition Leader. However, Kerala police under Pinarayi Vijayan are reluctant to register a case against him. Police reluctance shows the nexus between BJP and CPI(M). He (Mahadev) should be booked without delay,’’ he said.
Echoing similar concerns, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V.D. Satheesan expressed shock over the lack of police action. “It is shocking that police have not so far taken a suo motu action on the threat. Rahul cannot be silenced with such words,” TIE quoted him as saying.
Satheesan further accused the state government of tacitly aligning with the saffron party. “Police inaction shows that the Vijayan government has compromised with BJP. They want to end Rahul Gandhi,” he remarked.
Satheesan added that the people of India would not allow any attempt to silence Rahul Gandhi, who, he said, remains steadfast in his fight against communalism and fascism, undeterred by threats or intimidation.
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Heatwave scorches Odisha, Jharsuguda reels under 43.6 degrees C
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Heatwave conditions scorched Odisha on Tuesday, with the IMD forecasting that hot and humid conditions would continue in parts of the state.
The IMD’s Bhubaneswar centre said Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts were likely to experience hot and humid conditions on April 22.
It also predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty surface winds in parts of Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and Koraput, among others.
On Tuesday, 18 places across Odisha recorded maximum temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius or above. The industrial town of Jharsuguda was the hottest in the state at 43.6 degrees Celsius.
Sambalpur and Titlagarh recorded 42.5 degrees Celsius each, followed by Hirakud at 42.4 degrees, Bolangir at 42.2 degrees and Angul at 42.1 degrees.
The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack recorded 37.9 degrees Celsius and 38.8 degrees Celsius, respectively, with relative humidity levels remaining above 70 per cent.
Meanwhile, the state government directed all district education officers to conduct a Summer Learning Programme for students till class 8 in government schools during the summer vacation.
Officials said students would be given practice assignments along with audio-visual learning content.
Subject-wise assignment sheets have been prepared, while related digital material will be shared through school parents' WhatsApp groups using a chatbot system, they said.
