Congress MLA Arif Masood Faces Death Threats After Pahalgam Attack; BJP Leader Krishna Ghadge Issues Public Warning
Bhopal, 30th April 2025: Bhopal MLA Arif Masood from the Indian National Congress is facing a wave of death threats following the recent Pahalgam terror attack, with the latest and most prominent coming from BJP working committee member Krishna Ghadge, a close aide of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. During a Hanuman Janmotsav event, Ghadge publicly labelled Masood a “Pakistani agent” and warned, “We will not spare Arif Masood and his followers who oppose our religion. We will deal with them right here,” sparking outrage among Masood’s supporters and intensifying political tensions in Bhopal.
The controversy escalated after videos of Ghadge’s speech circulated widely on social media, prompting Masood’s supporters to file a police complaint. Ghadge, however, refused to apologise, defending his remarks as part of an anti-Pakistan rally and accusing Masood’s supporters of siding with Pakistan by filing complaints against him. The BJP has stated it will investigate the context of Ghadge’s comments, with spokesperson Narendra Saluja saying the party will seek clarification and determine if the video was edited.
This incident follows an earlier threat made against Masood by Sachin Raghuvanshi, whose social media post declaring intent to kill the MLA led to an FIR and further controversy after photos emerged of Raghuvanshi with a senior BJP leader. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh has called for increased security for Masood and demanded legal action against those issuing threats, emphasising the seriousness of targeting elected representatives.
Arif Masood, one of only two Muslim MLAs in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, is known for his advocacy on minority rights and his vocal opposition to divisive politics. He has attributed the threats to his continued electoral success and his stance on Hindu-Muslim unity, stating that the BJP is targeting him because they are unable to unseat him despite repeated efforts. Masood’s political journey began in student politics, and he has been a prominent figure in Bhopal since winning the assembly seat in 2018 and retaining it in 2023.
The threats against Masood have drawn condemnation from opposition leaders, who describe them as an attack on democracy and demand swift government action. The episode has further polarised political discourse in Madhya Pradesh, with both Congress and BJP trading accusations over communal rhetoric and political vendetta.
