The winter session of Parliament on Tuesday saw ruckus on the issue of the removal of SPG (Special Protection Group) cover from the Gandhi Family. The cover protected the Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi, son Rahul Gandhi, and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. On the third day of the Winter session also, Congress leaders are debating on it. On which Central Government said there is nothing political in the withdrawal of SPG cover.
Congress leader Anand Sharma started the discussion. He said: “All have been vulnerable to threats. It is the duty of the state to protect its leaders. When UPA was in office, the security cover of Dr. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not disturbed. We urge the government that issues of personal safety, lives politicians has to be beyond the partisan political considerations.”
On the response to the Congress leader Anand Sharma, BJP leader JP Nadda said, “There is nothing political, security hasn’t been withdrawn. Home Ministry has a very set pattern & there is a protocol. It is not done by a politician, it is done by the Home Ministry and according to threat perception, the security is given & withdrawn. ”
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy countering Sharma’s said: “The threat surrounding the Gandhi family disappeared with the end of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who were responsible for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on 21 May 1991. The second is the attitude of the protectees towards those accused of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. They have been asking for a reduction in the punishment.”
Why was SPG Cover given to Gandhi Family?
The central government placed the SPG security cover when Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE), a Sri Lankan militant separatist group on May 21, 1991. Gandhi Family was given the SPG security to stop such accidents from happening again.
What is SPG Cover?
Special Protection Group is a special force with over 3000 personnel. They provide security and protect the Prime Minister of India, Former Prime Ministers of India and their Families.