New Delhi: The Congress party has raised alarm over what it described as a "calculated and chilling" death threat to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.

The remarks were made by Printu Mahadev, a former Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) state president and alleged BJP spokesperson, during a Malayalam TV live debate.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, warning that failure to act against Mahadev would amount to complicity in normalising political violence. Venugopal stated that Mahadev declared openly: "Rahul Gandhi will be shot in the chest."

Calling it more than a slip of tongue or exaggeration, Venugopal said the words placed Gandhi’s life in danger and eroded constitutional values. He highlighted repeated warnings from the CRPF about threats to Rahul Gandhi’s security, including a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge that was mysteriously leaked.

The Congress alleged that Mahadev’s statement reflects a broader "toxic atmosphere of hate" cultivated by the ruling BJP, with multiple social media threats already targeting Gandhi. Venugopal warned Shah that inaction would be judged as giving a "de facto licence" to violence.

Rahul Gandhi, whose grandmother Indira Gandhi and father Rajiv Gandhi were assassinated, continues to face security concerns. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that the regime is politicising his safety and "playing with fire".

Kerala’s Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan also criticised state authorities for failing to act against Mahadev. The Congress has demanded immediate legal action, calling for accountability from the government to protect the opposition leader.

The Congress is calling for immediate legal proceedings and exemplary punishment, warning that Gandhi’s safety is both a constitutional obligation and a matter of national concern.