Patna, Jan 27 (NationPress) Former Congress member Shakeel Ahmad has reported a potential threat to his life, shortly after he labeled Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition and prominent party figure Rahul Gandhi as a “darpok” (coward) and characterized him as an “insecure” politician.

Ahmad, who previously served as a three-time MLA and two-term MP from Bihar, left the Congress party following the Bihar Assembly elections last year.

On Tuesday, he claimed to have been “secretly informed” by former party associates that the Congress leadership allegedly instructed to “execute an attack” at his homes in Patna and Madhubani under the pretense of protests and effigy burning.

“This goes against the ideals of democracy,” Ahmad expressed in a post on X, voicing his concerns regarding his safety.

In another update, Ahmad shared a screenshot from a WhatsApp group chat, where a member was urging others to burn his effigies for speaking out against Rahul Gandhi. In light of this, Ahmad stated that his fears had now been confirmed.

“My information has proven to be entirely accurate. Many thanks to my former Congress colleagues. There’s a saying in Bihar: ‘Old friends are the ones who come in handy’. Is this happening without Rahul ji’s directives?” he questioned in his post.

As a result of these developments, security measures have been heightened outside his residence in Phulwari Sharif in Patna.

This controversy emerged following Ahmad’s harsh criticism of Rahul Gandhi last Saturday, when he labeled the Congress leader a “darpok” and accused him of insecurity within the party.

Ahmad alleged that Gandhi favors only younger leaders who continuously flatter him while neglecting senior leaders with independent public standing.

He further claimed that Gandhi feels uneasy around experienced leaders and accused him of managing the party in a “dictatorial” and “non-democratic” fashion.

According to Ahmad, senior colleagues in the Congress often find themselves overlooked, with decision-making resting in a small circle.

Ahmad also asserted that Rahul Gandhi’s leadership style has exacerbated internal rifts within the party, as only those who openly praise him are encouraged, while dissenters are marginalized.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla commented on the situation, suggesting it reveals what he described as Rahul Gandhi’s “true image”.

“Rahul Gandhi has already been dismissed by public sentiment, but it’s clear that Congress leaders and workers themselves do not see him as a leader. Shakeel Ahmad has highlighted how Rahul Gandhi is timid, insecure, and immature. He desires a robust Congress, yet not strong leaders within the party,” Poonawalla commented, adding that numerous leaders have departed from Congress due to perceived insecurity at the top.