Bhopal — Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Arif Masood has reportedly received multiple death threats in recent days, amid heightened communal tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack. The latest threat came from BJP leader Krishna Ghadge, a close aide of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who called Masood a “Pakistani agent” during a speech at a Hanuman Janmotsav gathering, reported the Indian Express.
In a video widely shared on social media, Ghadge declared: “This isn’t about Pakistan. Their agents are here at this very intersection, listening. Arif Masood, the thief, and his supporters who oppose our religion — we will deal with them here itself.” The statement has sparked massive outrage, prompting Masood’s supporters to file a police complaint.
Despite criticism, Ghadge defended his remarks in a Facebook post, saying, “Our rally was against Pakistan. My statement calling him a Pakistani agent and a threat to take his life is being misrepresented. If the Arif Masood fan club is filing complaints, it only exposes their allegiance.”
This incident follows a prior death threat by another BJP youth leader, Sachin Raghuvanshi, who openly posted on Facebook, “I’ll kill Masood tomorrow… I love dying and killing for the nation.” Though he later deleted the post, an FIR was lodged at Shahjahanabad Police Station following a complaint by former councillor Mewalal Kannerji.
Raghuvanshi’s profile features photos with BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma, known for his inflammatory remarks against Muslims.
Veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh condemned the threats and urged the Bhopal Police Commissioner to reassess the threat perception around Masood and increase his security. He also called on the BJP to take legal action against Raghuvanshi.
Masood, known for his consistent advocacy of communal harmony, stated that the threats against him are politically motivated, targeting his efforts to uphold Hindu-Muslim unity and his opposition to the ruling BJP.
Since the Pahalgam incident, hate speech and anti-Muslim propaganda on social media have escalated, leading to a surge in physical violence, discrimination, and threats against Muslims in several parts of the country.
