Congress’s Khera rebuts BJP, backs Rahul Gandhi’s claims on Jaitley

The controversy surrounding Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the late Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attempted to intimidate him took a new turn on Saturday, as Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera responded to the BJP’s criticism and questioned the party’s stance on the matter.

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi alleged that Arun Jaitley had been sent to pressure him during the farmers’ protest, urging him to stop opposing the government. However, Jaitley’s son, Rohan Jaitley, strongly denied the claim, pointing out that his father had passed away in 2019—before the farm laws were introduced.

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Raising sharp questions about Arun Jaitley’s role in earlier agricultural reforms, Khera cited policies such as the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act and the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Bill. “Was Arun Jaitley not present when the APMC amendments were being brought,” he asked.

Khera emphasized that the key issue was not who delivered the threat, but on whose behalf, it was made. He suggested that the force behind it was the “Modi-Shah duo,” who, according to him, sought to silence Rahul Gandhi’s support for India’s farmers.

The Congress party has consistently criticized the government’s agricultural policies, which it sees as anti-farmer. Rahul Gandhi’s fresh allegation, and Khera’s pointed response, underscore the party’s continued opposition to the government’s stance on farmers’ issues.