'Farm laws introduced in 2020': Arun Jaitley's son reacts to Rahul Gandhi's accusations of his father
Speaking at the Congress-organised Annual Legal Conclave 2025, Gandhi recalled a tense exchange, saying, 'I remember when I was fighting against the farm laws, Arun Jaitley was sent to threaten me. He said, 'If you continue down this path, opposing the government and fighting us on the farm laws, we'll have to take action against you.' I replied, 'I think you don't know who you're talking to. We're Congress people, we're not cowards.
We never bend. The British couldn't bend us.''
Gandhi's remark quickly drew a sharp rebuttal from Jaitley's son, Rohan Jaitley, who accused the Congress MP of misrepresenting facts and politicising the memory of the deceased. '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,' Rohan Jaitley said in a statement.
Calling the claim factually incorrect and in poor taste, Rohan further added, '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.' He described his father's approach to politics as one that welcomed open discussion rather than confrontation. '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 also urged Gandhi to exercise caution while speaking about deceased public figures. 'I would appreciate Rahul Gandhi being mindful while speaking of those not with us,' he said, recalling a previous instance where Gandhi had allegedly politicised the final days of former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. 'He attempted something similar with Manohar Parrikar ji, politicising his final days, which was in equally poor taste.
Let the departed rest in peace,' he added.
Gandhi's broader speech at the conclave included allegations of voter fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, criticism of the Election Commission of India, and remarks about constitutional decline under the current government.
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