Udit Raj Clarifies Rahul Gandhi’s Claim on Arun Jaitley Threat, Links it to 2015 Land Acquisition Bill

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: Congress leader Udit Raj has clarified party MP Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks about former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley allegedly threatening him, stating that the incident referred to the 2015 Land Acquisition Bill, not the Farm Laws introduced in 2020. The clarification comes amid political debates over the timeline and context of Gandhi’s claims.

“Rahul was referring to the Land Acquisition Bill of 2015, which was vehemently opposed by the Congress. At that time, Arun Jaitley threatened him. Jaitley passed away in 2019; therefore, there is no contradiction in Rahul’s statement, which means Rahul is correct,” Udit Raj posted on social media.

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, made during a public interaction, had sparked questions as they seemed to imply a connection with the contentious Farm Laws, which were introduced years after Jaitley's passing. Udit Raj’s explanation aims to clarify that Gandhi was referencing an earlier instance involving the 2015 land acquisition amendments, which had faced strong opposition from Congress and other parties.

The 2015 Land Acquisition Bill proposed several changes to the 2013 Act, including easing norms for acquiring land for infrastructure projects, which opposition parties, including the Congress, alleged would dilute protections for farmers and landowners. Rahul Gandhi and Congress had led multiple protests against the bill, framing it as anti-farmer.