Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

In a major security overhaul, Bhartiya Janta Party replaced the SPG security cover of Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday. The government has now decided to provide Z-plus security which will be by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Speaking on the issue, the saffron party said that the security cover of SPG is given to individuals based on threat perception. The threat perception is done by intelligence agencies. BJP government has cited administrative reasons behind the decision.

As quoted by ANI, BJP general secretary organization BL Santhosh said, “SPG or Z+ security cover is decided on threat perception assessment done by intelligence agencies not in 10 Janpath like in yesteryears. Rahul Gandhi has breached protocol more than 300 times.. why to cry now?”

Congress party had criticized the government’s decision. The grand old party had termed the move as a tool of personal vendetta. It has been reported that the Gandhi family will be without SPG protection for the first time in 28 years. The family was included in the VVIP security list following an amendment in September 1991 in the SPG Act of 1988.

BJP’s national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said that the allegations that the Gandhi family had violated the norms of the SPG cover in the past and didn’t cooperate with its commandos. It was reported that the members of Gandhi family didn’t use bullet-resistant vehicles on many occasions and the family did not take SPG commandos on many foreign visits.

By Saurabh Parmar

Digital Journalist (Specializing in Indian affairs & Contemporary Political development)

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