INDIA bloc will soon form govt. at Centre, claims CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): INDIA bloc would soon form Government at the Centre, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed on Wednesday as he predicted that the ruling NDA will not complete its five-year term. He also lashed out at the BJP over the recent statements of its leaders targeting former Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
"BJP leaders are issuing threats to Rahul Gandhi as BJP faced a setback in Lok Sabha polls.....We have reached 100 (seats), we will soon form a government, (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi will not complete five years. I don't believe in predicting the future, but I'm still saying it based on the political developments," Siddaramaiah said.
"Looking at the political developments taking place in the government (at the Centre) -- see with the support of JD(U) and (N) Chandrababu Naidu (of TDP), he (Modi) is surviving (as PM). They may withdraw support any moment, what will happen then?", he said at a press conference at his home-office 'Krishna.'
Suggesting that his statement is based on "political developments", Siddaramaiah said: "It may happen or may not happen. According to the information we have, based on the political developments, I don't feel that this government (at the Centre) will complete its term."
Responding to claims by BJP that the government headed by him in the state may collapse any time, he said: "We have won 136 seats (in the 224 member assembly). How will it fall? So don't give importance to such claims about our government's collapse."
Stating that BJP leaders have in recent times been attacking Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi with criticism and false allegations, the CM claimed they are also issuing life threats and targeting him with an intention to lower his popularity.
"Rahul Gandhi can't be cowed down by threats and life threats. Unable to digest his popularity they are indulging in such things," he said.
Citing the recent remarks by BJP leaders Tarvinder Singh Marwah, Ravneet Singh Bittu and Raghuraj Singh, as well as that of Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, Siddaramaiah said they have directly threatened Rahul Gandhi.
Asked whether there is a threat to the life of Rahul Gandhi by BJP, Siddaramaiah said: "What else are they doing? they are issuing life threats. What do they mean by saying-- you will meet the same fate as your grandmother?...Rs 11 lakh to those who will cut the tongue of Rahul Gandhi? -- By issuing life threats, attempts are on to finish him off politically. Karnataka Congress and our government strongly condemn it."
"Issuing life threats is not a small matter, " he said. "By not taking any action, they are encouraging the accused persons who are making statements against Rahul ji....I urge criminal cases and strict action against them. If BJP feels by doing such things they can finish off Rahul Gandhi politically, it's their foolishness; also Congress will not tolerate such attempts."
Siddarmaiah noted that Marwah had openly issued an assassination threat against Rahul Gandhi, wherein he said that 'Rahul Gandhi baaz aaja, nahi toh aane wale time mein tera bhi wohi haal hoga jo teri dadi ka haal hua (you better behave, or you will meet the same fate as your grandmother)'
While the Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu had called Rahul Gandhi the "number one terrorist of the country", Sena MLA Gaikwad announced a bounty of Rs 11 lakh for anyone who will cut the tongue of Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah said. "I urge the Maharashtra Government to immediately book a case of issuing life threat against Gaikwad and send him to jail."
He also cited Uttar Pradesh Minister Raghuraj Singh's remarks that Gandhi was the "number one terrorist of India".
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AAP indulging in 'dangerous vendetta politics': Raghav Chadha after meeting President Murmu
New Delhi (PTI): Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Tuesday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of indulging in 'vendetta politics' and misusing the state machinery to target the MPs who recently quit the party and merged with the BJP in the Rajya Sabha.
Chadha, along with three other MPs, met President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday and submitted a representation alleging harassment and "politically motivated" action against them following their exit from AAP.
Rajya Sabha MPs Rajinder Gupta and Ashok Mittal were part of the delegation.
"All those MPs who exercised their constitutional right to express disagreement with the Aam Aadmi Party and chose to leave it, and all these incidents and developments, have been presented today before the President of India. I also want to tell the Aam Aadmi Party that as long as we were obedient, we were considered cultured. The moment we left, we were branded corrupt," Chadha told reporters here after the meeting.
He alleged that several former AAP MPs who have joined the BJP are facing intimidation and coercive actions from state agencies.
"The Aam Aadmi Party, which accuses everyone else of revenge politics, is today itself indulging in dangerous vendetta politics. Since April 24, when we left AAP and merged with the BJP, our MPs are being systematically targeted and harassed," he said.
Citing specific instances, Chadha claimed that former cricketer and MP Harbhajan Singh has been attacked, while industrialist and MP Rajendra Gupta's business operations have allegedly been disrupted.
"We left the Aam Aadmi Party on April 24, 2026, and merged with the BJP. Since then, harassment of our MPs has begun. First, World Cup-winning cricketer Harbhajan Singh had "traitor" written outside his house. Stones were thrown at his residence with the help of Punjab Police, and offensive slogans were raised targeting his family," he alleged.
"Then, our colleague Rajinder Gupta, a Padma Shri awardee and an industrialist running a major factory in Punjab's Malwa region--providing livelihood to around 30,000 people--had his factory targeted. The Punjab government allegedly cut off its water supply, and the Pollution Board conducted raids to initiate its closure," he said.
He further claimed that cases have been registered against MP Sandeep Pathak, terming them "malicious and fabricated".
"These FIRs and notices are so frivolous that they are not worth the paper they are written on. The judiciary will tear them apart," Chadha said.
He warned the AAP government that such actions could have serious consequences. "Using vigilance, the Pollution Board, and the police for political revenge is a dangerous game. You may have started it, but the end will not be good. This must stop," he said.
"The AAP has a government in one state and control over the police there. The BJP has governments in 21 states and control over police forces in those states," he added.
Chadha also alleged that attempts are being made to target him next through "fabricated cases" and claimed that social media campaigns are being run to malign them.
Appealing to Punjab government officials, he urged them not to act under political pressure. "I want to tell officials that you are respected officers. Do not succumb to threats of transfer or suspension. Act according to law and in national interest," he said.
The Rajya Sabha MP also took a swipe at the AAP, saying those who invoke Mahatma Gandhi's ideals are now misusing state machinery for political purposes. "The people of Punjab must know how their government is being used to settle political scores," Chadha added.
Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak alleged that the party is now resorting to coercive measures out of "fear and panic".
"We joined the Aam Aadmi Party because it showed the country a dream -- a dream of starting a new kind of politics, an honest form of politics. While being there, due to ideological reasons and after witnessing several inconsistencies, we decided to leave the party," he said.
"Out of fear and panic, the Aam Aadmi Party is now filing FIRs. They are conducting raids in factories and trying to intimidate people through false FIRs. I want to say 'go ahead, file FIRs', but do not back off afterwards. We will fight legally," he told reporters.
Advising the AAP government, Pathak asserted that governance, not intimidation, is the only way forward.
"You cannot save a government through such dirty tactics. If you want to retain power, you must work honestly. If you think you can stop us through false and fabricated FIRs, that is not possible. We have stepped out ready to sacrifice everything and will do what is right for the country," he said.
Pathak mentioned that the President assured them that constitutional protections would be upheld.
Taking a swipe at the ruling party, Chadha said its tenure in Punjab is now short-lived. "This government has only a few months left; it will go. They will simply board the Shatabdi and return to Delhi. They have no future in Punjab," he said.
Later, in a post on X, Chadha said that he, along with three other MPs, conveyed to the President how the AAP's Punjab government is misusing state machinery to target them for exercising their constitutional rights.
"The party that once cried vendetta is now practising its most toxic form," he wrote.
"We take strength from the President's assurance that constitutional rights and democratic choices must be respected," he added, while likening the AAP's conduct to that of a "bitter and vindictive" former ally.
