A day after Congress flagged security lapse during Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), informing that the Congress leader himself has violated “laid down guidelines" on several occasions.
CRPF provides inner cordon of Rahul Gandhi’s Z-plus category security.
“Violations of laid down guidelines on the part of Rahul Gandhi have been observed on several occasions & this fact has been communicated to him from time to time," CRPF said on Thursday.
Giving a figure, CRPF said that there have been 113 violations by Rahul Gandhi observed and “duly communicated" since 2020. “It may further be mentioned that during Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, the protectee [Rahul Gandhi] has violated security guidelines and CRPF will be taking up this matter separately," the central force’s statement.
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“Security arrangements have been fully made for Rahul Gandhi. 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," the statement added.
Since 2020, there have been 113 violations observed and duly communicated. It may further be mentioned that during Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, the protectee has violated security guidelines and CRPF will be taking up this matter separately: CRPF— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2022
The clarification by CRPF comes a day after Congress wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging “security breaches" during the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in the national capital and demanded immediate steps to ensure the security of Rahul Gandhi and others taking part in the yatra.
Asserting that the Congress has lost its leaders and former prime ministers -Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi- for the country’s unity, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal in a letter to Shah said, “the government should not indulge in vindictive politics and ensure the safety and security of the Congress leaders".
Citing instances of “miscreants" entering the yatra camp site illegally, Venugopal alleged that they were Haryana’s intelligence security personnel, who interrogated people who took part in the yatra.
“The security of the yatra was compromised on multiple occasions following its entry into Delhi on Saturday. Delhi Police completely failed to control the surging crowds and maintain a perimeter around Rahul Gandhi, who has “Z+ Security", he alleged.
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The situation was so severe that Congress workers and ‘Bharat yatris’ walking with Rahul Gandhi had to form a security perimeter, he said and claimed that “Delhi Police remained mute spectators".
Responding to this, CRPF on Thursday said that the Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra for December 24 was conducted on December 22, adding that all security guidelines were strictly followed and Delhi Police has informed that sufficient deployment of security personnel was made.
During the travel of the protectee, the required security arrangements are made by the CRPF in coordination with the state police and the security agencies in accordance with guidelines, CRPF said, adding that advisories based on threat assessment have been issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to all stakeholders concerned including the state governments.
An Advance Security Liaison (ASL) is also undertaken for every visit, the CRPF said.
(With PTI inputs)
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