Patna (Bihar) [India], February 7 : Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday responded to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks over the arrest of Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, saying that the matter was a police case and comments should not be made without knowing the details.
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that Pappu Yadav was arrested for demanding justice in the death case of a NEET aspirant in a hostel in Patna. Gandhi, in a post on X, said that Yadav's arrest is "an act of political vendetta" aimed at intimidating the voices in connection with the case. He further accused the BJP-NDA alliance of attempting to "derail" the case and "harass the family" to protect the criminals.
Reacting to statements by Gandhi, Rijiju said the arrest was carried out by the police in connection with a case and should be seen in that context.
"Who was arrested? MP Pappu Yadav was arrested. Well, if he was arrested, the police must have done it, right? If someone is arrested in a police case, how can anyone comment without knowing the details? That is not right. It must be a police case," Rijiju said to the reporters.
He added that while Pappu Yadav is a Member of Parliament, the government cannot interfere in police action.
"He is our MP. I am the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; he is a member of our Parliament. But if the police take action, what can I say about it?" Rijiju said.
Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi, in a post on X, wrote, "Standing firmly as the voice for justice for this daughter was fellow MP Pappu Yadav ji. His arrest today is clearly an act of political vendetta, aimed at intimidating and silencing every voice that demands accountability."
"The suspicious death of an aspirant student for NEET in Patna under mysterious circumstances, and the entire sequence of actions that followed, have once again exposed the deep rot in the system. When the victim's family demanded a fair investigation and justice, the same old BJP-NDA playbook came into play--derail the case, harass the family, and shield the culprits with the power of the state," he said.
Rahul Gandhi expressed concern over the increased crime against women and criticised the government's tendency to "sit with eyes shut to this horrifying reality."
"The most alarming fact is that this incident does not appear confined to a single case. It points toward a terrifying conspiracy and a dangerous pattern, where more daughters are falling victim, and those in power sit with eyes shut to this horrifying reality. This is not politics; it is a question of justice. It is a question of the honour and safety of Bihar's daughters," he said.
Pappu Yadav, however, was arrested on Friday after he failed to appear in an alleged land dispute case dating back to 1995. The case is linked to the Gardanibagh police station and involves several sections of the Indian Penal Code, now corresponding provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Ahead of his arrest, Yadav had expressed fear about his safety and said he wanted to go directly to court instead of the police station.
Meanwhile, the bail application of Independent Purnea MP Pappu Yadav will be heard on Monday, his Advocate Shivnandan Bharti said on Saturday, as he alleged questionable police action in the MP's arrest and confirmed that Yadav has been shifted to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) under judicial custody due to his deteriorating health.
Separately, responding to opposition claims that the government had failed to protect agricultural interests in the context of the 18 per cent tariff imposed by the United States under the interim India-US trade framework, Rijiju dismissed the criticism.
"When the details are known, the Congress party's mouths will be locked (silenced)," Rijiju said.