Lok Sabha MP Rajesh Ranjan, commonly known as Pappu Yadav, has requested enhanced security following death threats allegedly issued by a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. In a letter addressed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Independent MP from Bihar’s Purnia demanded that his current ‘Y’ level security be upgraded to ‘Z’ category. The threat comes after Pappu Yadav was warned to steer clear of matters involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan, with whom the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has had prior conflicts.
Pappu Yadav expressed frustration at the lack of response from Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that despite multiple attempts to meet the Chief Minister regarding his security concerns, his requests went unanswered. “I called the Bihar Chief Minister’s private secretary, even his chief secretary, but I couldn’t secure a meeting,” Pappu Yadav told ANI, adding that his concerns about the death threat were ignored. He further noted that he contacted top police officials, including the Director General of Police (DGP) and the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Purnia, to urge immediate action.
Pappu Yadav, known for his advocacy for social justice, said he has no personal enmity and only raises issues related to public welfare. “I don’t have any personal fight with anyone. I only talk about issues. It is the government’s prerogative to provide me with security,” he remarked, adding that the threat has not deterred him from his public service duties.
In the wake of the threat, Pappu Yadav traveled to Mumbai, where he met Bollywood actor Salman Khan and the family of the late Baba Siddique, a political figure with ties to Mumbai’s political landscape. Following Siddique’s murder, Pappu Yadav voiced strong criticism of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, stating that he could handle the situation himself if permitted by the law.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Misa Bharti also weighed in on the situation, criticizing the Gujarat government and jail authorities for their inability to prevent such threats from being issued from inside jail. “I have received information from the media that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is in jail in Gujarat. This shows the inefficiencies of Gujarat’s jail administration as various threat calls are being made by him from jail,” Bharti stated, urging the authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The incident has raised concerns over the safety of political figures in India, particularly in light of recent gang-related activities. Pappu Yadav’s request for enhanced security highlights the growing need for better protection of public officials facing credible threats from criminal organizations.
