Union Minister Chirag Paswan has received a death threat through an anonymous letter that warned he would be killed by “hardcore terrorists”.

Mr Paswan, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party and is the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries, has Z-plus security.

The matter has been conveyed to the Union Home Ministry, and Home Minister Amit Shah has also been informed. The threat has additionally been brought to the attention of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Bihar government.

Letter seeks urgent investigation

According to a letter sent to the Home Ministry by Chirag Paswan’s secretary, an unsigned communication containing two mobile phone numbers was received by the ministry.

The letter described the communication as containing a direct threat to the life of the Union Minister for Food Processing Industries.

The message reportedly stated: “You will be killed shortly by hardcore terrorists.”

The letter described the direct nature of the threat and its reference to “hardcore terrorists” as a matter of grave concern, raising concerns about the minister’s safety and security.

It requested that the matter be taken up urgently for investigation and that the minister’s security arrangements be reviewed and scaled up if necessary.

Earlier threats to political leaders

The development comes after other instances of death threats involving prominent political leaders.

In August, a man was arrested in Jharkhand for issuing death threats to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The man, identified as Alim Ansari, had posted objectionable videos on social media in which he used abusive language against Prime Minister Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Amit Shah, besides issuing death threats.

In 2023, the Delhi Police reported receiving two phone calls from a man threatening to kill Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah and then Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Indians after the country recorded 7.8% economic growth in the April-June quarter of the financial year 2026-27, while urging citizens to support the domestic economy by limiting non-essential spending abroad.

In a video message, Modi called for greater emphasis on the principles of Swadeshi, Vocal for Local and Made in India. He appealed to Indians to avoid travelling abroad for leisure and to choose India instead for destination weddings.

The Prime Minister also urged citizens to buy gold only when necessary, linking the appeal to his broader call for self-reliance.

PM Modi praises 7.8% GDP growth

Modi said the 7.8% GDP growth reflected the collective efforts and resolve of Indians. The growth came despite global challenges, including wars, instability and disruptions to supply chains.

The government’s latest figures show that India’s economy expanded 7.8% in the first quarter of FY2026-27. The growth was stronger than expectations, although it was lower than the 8.6% expansion recorded in the previous quarter.

Modi said the strong economic numbers reflected growing confidence in India’s economic trajectory.

PM Modi calls for ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Vocal for Local’

The Prime Minister said Indians should embrace Swadeshi and promote locally made products as part of efforts to strengthen self-reliance.

He urged citizens to avoid foreign travel for leisure and asked them not to organise destination weddings abroad. Instead, he promoted the idea of “Wed in India”, encouraging people to spend on travel, hospitality and celebrations within the country.

Modi also appealed to people to avoid buying gold unless it was necessary.

The message comes as the government seeks to encourage domestic consumption and reinforce the broader objective of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Modi links local choices to Viksit Bharat

Modi expressed confidence that greater emphasis on Swadeshi and self-reliance would help India move towards the goal of a developed nation.

He said that stronger participation by citizens in supporting domestic products and services would contribute to India’s long-term development and help create a stronger future for the country’s youth.

The Prime Minister’s message was delivered while he was in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has alleged that corruption in Uttar Pradesh is making it difficult for honest government officers to continue in service, claiming that some are choosing to leave before completing their tenure.

Yadav made the remarks while commenting on the resignation of IAS officer Divya Mittal. He alleged that the situation in the state was such that honest officers were finding it increasingly difficult to work.

According to Yadav, officers who want to discharge their duties honestly are facing an environment that is not conducive to their functioning. He claimed that some such officers are opting to leave government service rather than continue under these circumstances.

Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks on honest officers

Yadav linked the resignation of officers to what he described as the prevailing corruption in the Uttar Pradesh administration.

The Samajwadi Party leader alleged that officers who do not want to compromise with corruption are being pushed towards leaving service. His remarks came in the context of Divya Mittal’s resignation from the IAS.

Yadav’s comments are allegations directed at the state administration and do not, by themselves, establish that corruption was the reason for any particular officer’s resignation.

Divya Mittal’s resignation

IAS officer Divya Mittal’s resignation was the immediate context for Yadav’s remarks. Yadav used the development to raise questions about the working environment for government officers in Uttar Pradesh.

The Samajwadi Party chief argued that the departure of officers before retirement raises concerns about the conditions under which government officials are expected to work.

His comments add to the political debate over governance and corruption in Uttar Pradesh.