'Godse factory': Cong slams BJP-RSS after 'Karni Sena man' death threat to Rahul
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Thursday flagged a purported video of a man claiming to be from Karni Sena issuing death threats to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and "25 other MPs", and said the RSS-BJP ecosystem is a "Godse factory".
The opposition party also alleged that there is a deliberate campaign to demonise the opposition, and legitimise violence against political rivals, especially Gandhi.
The man, who purportedly issued the video threatening to shoot Gandhi and 25 other Congress MPs, has been detained by the Kota police.
Superintendent of Police, Kota, Tejaswani Gautam told PTI that the accused man has been detained in Borkheda police station and being questioned regarding the statement.
The man, who identified himself as Raj Singh, had issued the video statement, saying that all BJP and Karni Sena workers are deeply angered by the way 25 Congress MPs verbally abused Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
"If such an incident occurs again, we will enter the homes of those MPs and vandalize their homes. I believe this incident occurred on Rahul Gandhi's orders. Rahul Gandhi, listen carefully: if such an incident occurs again, we will barge into your home and shoot you," he said in the video.
"If those MPs are arrested within 24 hours, that is fine, otherwise we will shoot them all one by one," he said, while identifying himself a spokesperson for the Karni Sena.
Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera shared the video on X and slammed the RSS-BJP.
In his post, Khera said, "The RSS-BJP ecosystem is a 'Godse factory'. The threat issued by the so called Karni Sena against Rahul Gandhi and the '25 Members of Parliament' is not an isolated outburst. It is the part of a calculated and devious plan."
First, Kiren Rijiju publicly "lied and misled" the nation that Congress MPs abused Om Birla -- a claim contradicted by available video footage, which shows no such abuse, Khera said, adding that the Speaker is seen smiling during the exchange.
"Then, BJP MPs across platforms began echoing a strikingly similar line: that Rahul Gandhi poses 'the biggest threat to India’s national security.' This is a deliberate campaign to demonise the opposition, and legitimise violence against political rivals - especially Rahul Ji," Khera said.
"This is how radicalisation works: they manufacture a lie, amplify it through repetition, sanctify it with political authority, and circulate it until their followers are incited to hatred and violence. This is how Godse was created then. This is how another Godse is being instigated today," the Congress leader said.
Asked about the video at a press briefing, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate lashed out at the BJP and said that despite the open threats against MPs no action has been taken against the man in the video.
"I want to ask Om Birla ji, the goon in this video calls himself your supporter from the Karni Sena -- Do you have no objection to this video? What is the Home Minister doing? There is pin drop silence even as a goon openly threatens to shoot MPs and the Leader of Opposition," Shrinate said.
She also asked why an FIR had not been registered in this matter and why is the government silent.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said "self-proclaimed Modi bhakts are brazenly issuing death threats against Rahul Gandhi in broad daylight - without any reprimand from the ruling regime".
"This is a direct result of the toxic culture of animosity and vengeance created by the BJP in national discourse - right from Parliament to political rallies. They treat political opponents as die-hard enemies to be eliminated, and their foot soldiers - blinded by hate - are unleashed to intimidate opposition leaders," he said on X.
"However, the BJP-RSS ecosystem forgets - Rahul ji is from the legacy of Indira Gandhi ji and Rajiv Gandhi ji, & he has given us all the slogan of Daro Mat!He will not be deterred by such cheap trolls and will continue to face each adversary head on," he added.
पूरा RSS-भाजपा तंत्र एक “गोडसे फैक्ट्री” है।
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) February 19, 2026
तथाकथित करणी सेना द्वारा राहुल गांधी और “25 सांसदों” के खिलाफ दी गई धमकी कोई अलग-थलग पड़ी घटना नहीं है। यह एक सुनियोजित और कपटपूर्ण साज़िश का हिस्सा है।
▪️पहले, @KirenRijiju ने सार्वजनिक रूप से झूठ बोला और देश को गुमराह किया कि… pic.twitter.com/jB8HjM9MdP
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Elderly woman killed, robbed on outskirts of Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): A 69-year-old woman was allegedly murdered and robbed of her gold ornaments at her residence on the city’s outskirts while her paralysed husband was present, police said Thursday.
The incident occurred on Pete Street in Nelamangala, where Shobha lived with her husband, who is paralysed and bedridden, police said.
For the past decade, she had been the sole caregiver for her husband. The couple had no children and lived a secluded life, according to police.
A video from the scene showed the woman lying in a pool of blood, with her husband beside her on the same bed, they said.
The accused, Shivakumar, a wholesale shop owner who has been arrested in the case, allegedly targeted her to clear a debt of Rs 8 lakh, police said.
The crime came to light on Wednesday evening when her husband’s physiotherapist arrived for a scheduled session. Upon finding Shobha’s lifeless body in a pool of blood, the doctor immediately alerted the local authorities, police officials said.
According to police, at approximately 4 pm on the day of the incident, the accused, Shivakumar, a resident of the same locality, noticed Shobha wearing gold jewellery. He allegedly followed her to her residence with a premeditated plan.
Shivakumar entered the house under the guise of being thirsty, asking Shobha for a glass of water. Once inside, and believing she was alone, he attacked her. When Shobha attempted to resist, the accused allegedly slit her throat, a senior police officer said.
After the murder, Shivakumar fled the scene with more than 100 grams of gold jewellery worn by the victim, police said.
By analysing CCTV footage from the surrounding area, police identified Shivakumar and tracked him down, they added.
