Members of the Indian Youth Congress staged a protest on Saturday outside the BJP’s ‘Vasant Smruti’ office in Dadar area of Central Mumbai, condemning a recent threat issued against senior party leader Rahul Gandhi, reported the PTI.
Protesters shouted slogans and showered flower petals during the demonstration, saying they wanted to send a message that there is no place for hatred or violence in Maharashtra’s politics.
According to the PTI, Mumbai Youth Congress president Zeenat Shabreen said that ideological differences are natural in a democracy, but threats of violence are a serious attack on democratic values.
She demanded immediate registration of a case and strict action against those responsible for the threat.
The protest followed a video circulated by a man claiming to be a spokesperson of the Karni Sena, in which he allegedly threatened to shoot Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and 25 other Members of Parliament over remarks made about Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, as per the PTI.
The man was later detained by police in Kota, Rajasthan.
Protesters detained
Despite heavy barricading outside the BJP office, protesters reached the site but were later detained by the police and taken to Bhoiwada police station, as per the PTI.
Zeenat Shabreen alleged that while BJP workers are allowed to protest freely, Congress workers face police action even before their demonstrations begin, the news agency reported.
जब मुंबई में IYC कार्यकर्ता BJP मुख्यालय पहुँचे,
देश भर में भाजपाई पत्थर बरसाते रहे…
लेकिन युवा कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ता हाथों में फूल लेकर पहुँचे। pic.twitter.com/Azay3WJAD9— Indian Youth Congress (@IYC) February 21, 2026
Political tensions continue
The incident has added to ongoing political tensions between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra.
Both parties have accused each other of double standards, as debates over free speech, protest rights and political conduct continue.
Read more: BJP stages black-flag protest as Rahul Gandhi arrives in Mumbai
Rahul Gandhi reaches Mumbai
Meanwhile, amid the BJP protests, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Saturday reached Mumbai with state Congress leader welcoming him at the airport.
“He is not afraid of the political threats,” Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal said as he welcomed the party leader.
Rahul Gandhi received a grand welcome from party leaders and workers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
He arrived in Mumbai on Saturday while travelling to Bhiwandi in connection with a court matter.
A large number of Congress leaders and supporters gathered at the airport to greet him.
Sapkal says Rahul Gandhi is fearless
Speaking to the media, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshvardhan Sapkal said that Rahul Gandhi is not afraid of threats from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Sapkal stated that Rahul Gandhi has been working fearlessly in the national interest and is committed to protecting democracy and the Constitution.
He said that despite personal risks, Rahul Gandhi travelled thousands of kilometres from Kanyakumari to Kashmir and from Manipur to Mumbai, spreading the message of unity through the ‘Bharat Jodo’ and ‘Daro Mat’ campaigns.
