Cong slams withdrawal of SPG cover to Gandhi family, calls it political vendetta

Congress leaders on Friday (November 8) hit out at the Modi government for withdrawing the Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover given to the Gandhi family – Congress president Sonia Gandhi, and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Senior Congress party leader Ahmed Patel accused the BJP-led Central government of resorting to personal vendetta. “The BJP has descended to the ultimate personal vendetta mechanism, compromising the lives of family members of 2 former prime ministers to acts of terror and violence,” tweeted Patel.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reviewed the security cover of the three Congress leaders before arriving at a decision to withdraw their SPG security cover.

Also read | Change in SPG rule brings Gandhis under govt surveillance; Cong cries foul

Ashok Gehlot, chief minister of Rajasthan and a senior Congress leader said in a tweet that the security cover given to leaders should not be politicised.

The Central government has now decided to provide them with Z plus security cover. The CRPF personnel will now guard the members of the Gandhi family.

“PM Narendra Modi & BJP has crossed all the limits today, this is the classic case of political vendetta”, tweeted president of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, Amit Chavda.

His tweet also said that the removal of SPG cover for the family which has been at the forefront of freedom movement is unprecedented and completely uncalled for. “Government must at the earliest restore the SPG cover of Smt Sonia Gandhi ji, Shri Rahul Gandhi ji & Smt. Priyanka Gandhi ji at the earliest”, Chavda’s tweet added.

National spokesperson of INC, Jaiveer Shergill, condemned the move saying that a month back BJP wanted to extend the SPG cover to Rahul Gandhi even on his trips abroad but have now withdrawn it.

Under the Z-plus security, they will have commandos from the paramilitary force in close proximity besides guards at their homes and where ever they travel in the country, the official said.

SPG protectees, under the rules, are provided with guards, hi-tech vehicles, jammers and an ambulance in their carcade.

Also read | Centre revises SPG rules to ensure full compliance by Gandhis