New Delhi [India], August 2 : Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Naresh Gujral has slammed Congres leader Rahul Gandhi over claims that the NDA government had sent its senior leader Arun Jaitley to threaten over farm laws.
Gurjal said "no BJP leader has ever threatened" the Shironmani Akali Dal even though SAD broke its ties with BJP-led NDA over the three farm laws which were later repealed.
Naresh Gujral, a former MP and son of former Prime Minister IK Gujral, said that former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was a "thorough gentleman" and when Rahul Gandhi makes such remarks, he damages his own credibility. Arun Jaitley passed away in 2019.
Gujral said he was "shocked and pained" over Rahul Gandhi's remarks and said the whole world knows that Arun Jaitley was a democrat.
He called upon Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, to be more careful in his utterances.
"I am truly shocked and very pained to hear about what Mr. Gandhi has to say about my late dear and close friend Arun Jaitley ji. The whole world knows that he was a true democrat. Everybody knows he was a gentleman who would never use this kind of threat or this kind of dialogue. When Mr Gandhi says things like that, he only hurts his own credibility," Gujral told ANI.
"I have worked with Mr. Jaitley for almost 20 years. You would recall that the Akali Dal was part of the NDA, and we left the government on the issue of the farm laws. No BJP leader ever threatened us, forget about Arun Jaitley, who was a thorough gentleman. So when the Leader of the Opposition speaks like this, he only damages his own credibility. I would urge him to be more careful in the future," he added.
Arun Jaitley's son Rohan also slammed Rahul Gandhi's remarks and said his late father "was a staunch democrat and always believed in building consensus".
"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 staunch democrat and always believed in building consensus. If at all such a situation was 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 Jaitley said.
"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 Jaitley added.
Rohan Jaitley told ANI that the farm bills were tabled in Parliament 13 months after his father passed away and urged Rahul Gandhi to be responsible about his statements.
"Farmer's Bill was introduced in 2020. It was tabled 13 months after his (Arun Jaitley's) death... There was no conversation about the Farmer's Bill in Arun Jaitley's life... Threatening people was not in Arun Jaitley's nature. He was a consensus builder. He was a democrat by nature..... To say that he (Rahul Gandhi) was threatened over the Farmer's Bill, which came into the Parliament after his (Arun Jaitley) death, is highly condemnable... When a person is no longer among us, it is best not to speak about them; let them rest in peace... Kindly discharge your office with responsibility," he said.
Rahul Gandhi, who was speaking at AICC Legal Conclave 'Constitutional Challenges - Perspectives and Pathways' on Saturday, claimed that the Modi government had sent the then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to "threaten" him for trying to fight against the farm laws.
"I remember when I was fighting the farm laws, Arun Jaitley was sent to me to threaten me. He told me, 'If you carry on opposing the government, fighting the farm laws, we will have to act against you. ' I looked at him and said 'I don't think you have an idea who you are talking to,'" Rahul Gandhi said.
The Modi government had brought three farm ordinances, which were later replaced by three new farm laws. They were enacted into Acts in September 2020. The new farm laws were subsequently repealed.