Rahul Gandhi (L); Arun Jaitley
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed late BJP leader Arun Jaitley was sent to him to "threaten" him for opposing the now-withdrawn farm laws but he resisted, allegations which were rebutted by the BJP.
At the inaugural session of the Congress Legal Cell's day-long conclave 'Constitutional Challenges: Perspectives and Pathways', Rahul said Jaitley warned him that if he continues to oppose farm laws, the government would have to act against him. Rahul did not specify when this conversation happened.
"I remember when I was fighting the farm laws. He is not here anymore. I shouldn't really say it. But I will. Arun Jaitley-ji was sent to me to threaten me. He said 'you know if you carry on this path, opposing the govt, fighting the farm laws, we will have to act against you'," he said.
"I looked at him and said, 'I don't think you have an idea who you are talking to'. We are Congress people, we are not cowards. We are not going to bend. The British couldn’t bend us, the super power couldn’t bend us, who the hell are you?" he said.
However, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya rebutted the claims saying is "factually incorrect and misleading"
"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 2020. The laws were enacted in September 2020," Malviya said.
"Any discussion, whether in support or opposition, began after these developments. To suggest Arun Jaitley ji approached him for anything at all is factually incorrect and misleading. Let’s stick to facts and not rewrite timelines to suit narratives," he added.
Earlier, as supporters chanted 'is desh ka raja kaisa ho, Rahul Gandhi jaisa ho' (the king of this country should be like Rahul Gandhi), the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that he is not a king and neither does he want to be one as he is against such concepts.
These remarks came at the beginning of his address at the inaugural session of the Congress Legal Cell's day-long conclave 'Constitutional Challenges: Perspectives and Pathways'.
"No boss, mein raja nahin hun. Raja banna bhi nahin chahta hun. Main Raja ke against hun, concept ke against hun (No Boss, I am not the king. I don't want to be a king. I am against the king, I'm against the very concept)," he said.