Security Guidelines maintained, instead Rahul violated mandatory norms: CRPF

Security Guidelines maintained, instead Rahul violated mandatory norms: CRPF

(Contrary to attempts being made to trigger controversies, Rahul Gandhi himself violated security guidelines. During 'Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra', the protectee violated security guidelines and CRPF will be taking up the matter separately. Since 2020, there have been 113 such violations.) 

New Delhi 

Just as the Congress party has sought to trigger a row over 'security issues' related to party leader Rahul Gandhi, CRPF sources say on the contrary to allegations on several occasions "violations of laid down guidelines" on the part of Shri Gandhi have been observed.

"Security arrangements made for the protectee work fine when the protectee himself adheres to the security guidelines laid down. However, on several occasions violations of laid down guidelines on the part of Shri Rahul Gandhi has been observed," a source said.

Since 2020, there have been 113 violations observed and duly communicated. 

It may further be mentioned that during the Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, the protectee has violated security guidelines and CRPF will be taking up this matter separately, a CRPF source said. 

In fact, the critical observations of the security agencies and CRPF have also been communicated to the Congress MP from time to time.

Sources said, “It may be pointed out that during visits of the protectee the required security arrangements are made by the CRPF in coordination with State police/ security agencies as per guidelines. Advisories based on threat assessments have been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to all stakeholders concerned including the State governments". 

Moreover, Advance Security Liaison (ASL) is also undertaken for every visit.

Congress party had earlier sought to spark off a controversy after K C Venugopal, AICC general secretary (Organisation) had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging that the Delhi Police 'failed' to maintain a perimeter around former Congress president while he was marching through Delhi as a part of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

“As Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Delhi, on 24th December 2022, the security of the Bharat Jodo Yatra was compromised on multiple occasions," Venugopal had alleged in his letter to Shah.

CRPF sources say for the Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Padyatra for Dec 24, ASL involving all stakeholders was conducted on 22.12.022. 

"All security guidelines have been strictly followed and Delhi Police has informed that sufficient deployment of  security personnel was made. Security arrangements made for the protectee work fine when the protectee himself adheres to the security guidelines laid down". 

These security related controversies vis-a-vis Rahul Gandhi and his family members are nothing new. 

In November 2019 too, these issues had figured and were debated in public space.

A high-decibel controversy broke out on Nov 8 (2019) over the withdrawal of Special Protection Group (SPG) cover to members of the first family of the Congress party.

Even then official sources had stated that Rahul Gandhi, during his visit to Banaskantha in BJP-ruled Gujarat in 2017, violated security norms himself and that could have endangered his life.

He traveled in a non- SPG BR car 'against the security advice of SPG'.  In fact, there was stone pelting and even a SPG PSO was injured.

Sources also had claimed in November 2019 that in many of the 143 foreign visits, Rahul Gandhi had shared the travel itinerary at the "eleventh hour preventing the SPG officers from accompanying him".

Since May 2014, Priyanka Gandhi has often levelled allegations that SPG officials were collecting her personal and confidential information and sharing it with unauthorised persons. 

Similar faultline has been allegedly found with Congress president Sonia Gandhi also, sources said.

In 2019, SPG cover was withdrawn and CRPF was assigned the duty of protecting Sonia Gandhi and others in the family.

"The SPG security cover cannot be a sense of entitlement. It is tax-payer's money," BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia had then told a private news channel. "....We should leave it to the agencies to decide," he remarked. 

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