Rahul Gandhi alleges Arun Jaitley threatened him on farm laws, BJP rubbishes charge as 'fake news'
New Delhi, Aug 2 (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that former finance minister Arun Jaitley had threatened him to not speak against the farm laws else he would face action, a charge rubbished by the BJP as "fake news" and asked him to stick to facts instead.
Rohan Jaitley, son of the former union minister, also slammed Gandhi over his remarks, asking the Congress leader to "let the departed Rest in Peace".
Addressing Congress' annual legal conclave at the Vigyan Bhawan, Gandhi said, "I remember when I was fighting the farm laws -- he's not here anymore, so I really shouldn't say it, but I will -- Arun Jaitley ji was sent to me to threaten me."
He went on to add: "He said to me, 'If you carry on down this path, opposing the government and fighting us on the farm laws, we will have to take action against you.'
"I looked at him in the face and said, 'I think you don't know or have an idea who you're talking to. Because, we are Congress people, and we're not cowards. We never bend; the superpower British couldn't bend us and who the hell are you'."
The BJP hit back at Gandhi, saying the farm laws were brought in 2020 while Jaitley passed away in 2019 and asked the Congress leader to stick to facts instead of rewriting timelines to "suit narratives".
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya wrote on X, "Fake News Alert."
"Rahul Gandhi claims that Arun Jaitley approached him to water down his opposition to the 2020 farm laws. Let's set the record straight -- Arun Jaitley ji passed away on August, 24 2019.
"The draft Farm Bills were brought to the Union Cabinet on June 3, 2020. The laws were enacted in September 2020," he said.
Malviya said any discussion, whether in support or opposition of the Bill, began after "these developments".
"To suggest Arun Jaitley ji approached him for anything at all is factually incorrect and misleading," he said, adding, "Let's stick to facts and not rewrite timelines to suit narratives."
The BJP leader also posted a video clip of the remarks Gandhi made at the conclave.
Jaitley's son Rohan also took to X, saying, "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," he wrote.
"If at all such a situation was 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," he added.
Rahul Gandhi now claims my late father, Arun Jaitley, threatened him over the farm laws.
— Rohan Jaitley (@rohanjaitley) August 2, 2025
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…
🚨 Fake News Alert 🚨
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 2, 2025
Rahul Gandhi claims that Shri Arun Jaitley approached him to water down his opposition to 2020 Farm Laws. Let’s set the record straight:
📍 Arun Jaitley ji passed away on 24 August 2019.
📍 The draft Farm Bills were brought to the Union Cabinet on 3 June… https://t.co/aCGmcnf4mc
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
