Rohan Jaitley, the son of former Union Minister Arun Jaitley, on Saturday strongly criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for claiming that his late father had threatened him over the contentious farm laws.
In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he urged Rahul Gandhi to be more respectful when speaking about those who are no longer alive. He pointed out that his father passed away in 2019, while the Bill became an Act in 2020, a full year later.
Rahul Gandhi now claims my late father, Arun Jaitley, threatened him over the farm laws.
Let me remind him, my father passed away in 2019. The farm laws were introduced in 2020. More importantly, it was not in my father's nature to threaten anyone over an opposing view. He was a…— Rohan Jaitley (@rohanjaitley) August 2, 2025
‘It wasn’t in his nature to threaten anyone’: says Rohan
Rohan, who is also the president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), defended his late father, saying he never believed in threatening others for having a different opinion.
“It was not the nature of his father to threaten anyone over an opposing view,” he said in his post. “Arun Jaitley was a staunch democrat and always believed in building consensus.”
Arun Jaitley welcomed dialogue, says his son
In the same post, Rohan explained that his father always believed in open conversations when political differences arose.
He wrote, “If at all such a situation were to occur, as it often does in politics, he would invite free and open discussions to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to all. That was simply who he was, and that remains his legacy today.”
Rohan urged Gandhi to show some sensitivity when referring to people who have passed away. He also brought up an earlier incident involving Manohar Parrikar – Union Minister and former CM of Goa, accusing Rahul of doing something similar in poor taste.
“I would appreciate Rahul Gandhi being mindful while speaking of those not with us. He attempted something similar with Manohar Parrikar ji, politicising his final days which was in equally poor taste. Let the departed Rest in Peace,” Rohan said.
Rahul Gandhi alleges Arun Jaitley threatened him over farm laws
Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi made a serious allegation while speaking at the Annual Legal Conclave 2025 in Delhi. He claimed that when he opposed the farm laws, Arun Jaitley warned him that the government would act against him.
Rahul said, “I remember when I was fighting the farm laws — he’s not here anymore, so I really shouldn’t say it but I will — Arun Jaitley ji was sent to me. He said, ‘If you continue down this path, opposing the government and fighting us on the farm laws, we’ll have to take action against you.’ I replied, ‘I think you don’t know or have an idea who you’re talking to. We’re Congress people, and we’re not cowards. We never bend; the British superpower couldn’t bend us’.”
#WATCH | Delhi: At the Annual Legal Conclave- 2025, Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "I remember when I was fighting the farm laws, Arun Jaitley ji was sent to me to threaten me. He told me "if you carry on opposing the govt, fighting the farm laws, we will have… pic.twitter.com/8RJWmHo9fE
— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2025
Arun Jaitley died in 2019
Arun Jaitley was a key BJP leader and held important portfolios such as finance and defence during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first term from 2014 to 2019. He passed away on August 24, 2019, at the age of 66 after a prolonged illness, more than a year before the controversial farm laws were introduced in 2020.