Nitin Gadkari threatens legal action over PM's assassination allegations
What's the story
BJP leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari has threatened "legal action" against "anti-social elements" following former JNU student leader Shehla Rashid's tweet which alleged that RSS/Gadkari "is planning to assassinate" PM Modi. The tweet, which Shehla Rashid maintains was sarcastic, pertains to the alleged plot by Maoists to assassinate PM Modi. It got uncovered a few days earlier by the Pune Police. Here's more.
Twitter Post
Gadkari's tweet aimed at Shehla Rashid
I would be taking legal action on anti-social elements who have made bizzare comments; attributing personal motives to me, regarding the assassination threat to PM @narendramodi
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) June 9, 2018
Details
Shehla Rashid unmoved by Gadkari's threat
Following the discovery of the alleged assassination plot, Shehla Rashid tweeted, "Looks like RSS/Gadkari is planning to assassinate Modi, and then blame it upon Muslims/Communists and then lynch Muslims #RajivGandhiStyle". Maintaining that her tweet was sarcastic, Rashid also ridiculed Gadkari's threat of legal action, calling it a cowardly, and insecure over-reaction by the BJP leader.
Twitter Post
Shehla Rashid ridicules Gadkari's threat
Leader of world's biggest party gets worked up about a sarcastic tweet. Imagine what an innocent student @UmarKhalidJNU must be going through after a baseless media assault on him his father by Times Now.
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) June 9, 2018
Mr. Gadkari, will you also take action against Rahul Shivshankar? https://t.co/tNDZLrqOKV
Assassination
Meanwhile, what did the letter allege?
The letter hinting at an assassination plot to eliminate Modi was released by ANI, where 'R' says "defeating Hindu fascism has been our core agenda" and blames the "Modi-led Hindu fascist regime" of "bulldozing its way into lives of indigenous adivasis." BJP's expansion would mean "immense trouble for the party," it says. To end 'Modi-raj,' "targeting his roadshows could be an effective strategy."