Lok Sabha ruckus over Gandhi SPG cover

New Delhi: Furious with the government’s move to downgrade the security cover provided to the Gandhi family, Congress members in the Lok Sabha raised the issue for the second consecutive day and accused the Narendra Modi-led BJP government of playing “revenge politics” that was putting their lives at risk.

Congress MPs rushed to the well of the House while raising slogans — “Please stop revenge politics”, “End dictatorship”, “PM hosh mein aao”. They were accompanied by MPs from the National Conference and the DMK.

Since Congress members’ notice of adjournment motion on the withdrawal of the Special Protection Group (SPG) cover to the Gandhi family was rejected by Speaker Om Birla, party’s leader in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury raised the issue in Zero Hour. Minister of state for parliamentary affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal tried to stop Mr Chowdhury, saying he cannot raise the issue in the Zero Hour since he had not given a notice in this regard. Upset with this, the Congress and DMK MPs walked out of the House in protest.

Mr Chowdhury said that withdrawal of SPG cover of Gandhis “is a serious issue and their life is in danger.”

Earlier this month, the SPG cover for Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was withdrawn and they were placed under the Z-plus security cover provided by the CRPF. Delhi Police is in charge of control of access to the residences of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Also, instead of special bullet-proof vehicles, the Gandhi family, once among the most protected people in the country, have been provided with 10-year-old Tata Safaris. Under SPG protection, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were using Range Rovers with Ballistic Resistance and Rahul Gandhi was using a Fortuner.

There were reports that the CRPF has requested the SPG to allow armoured vehicles for the Gandhis, but there has been no response yet.

The family was given SPG cover after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE terrorists on May 21, 1991. Government sources have attributed the downgrade to a lower threat perception for the family.

“The SPG protection given to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi family is not an ordinary protection. After the assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi it was decided that the Prime Ministers and their families will be given SPG protection… Vajpayeeji had allowed Special Protection Group protection for the Gandhi family. From 1991-2019, NDA came to power twice but their SPG cover was never removed. What is the provocation now to withdraw their SPG cover. Sonia Gandhi’s life is in danger,” argued Mr Chowdhury.

BSP MP from Amroha Kunwar Danish Ali, TMC’s Saugata Roy and the DMK MPs also joined in to support Congress on this issue. “This family has lost two PMs due to assassinations,” Mr Ali said.

“Any smart man and wise man would put out the spark at the sight of it. But my friends on the ruling side are ignoring the gravity of the situation. The ruling party has not extended the security to madam Gandhiji on the ground that there is no threat perception. Here there is a threat perception,” said DMK leader T.R. Baalu.

A crack force of 3,000, the SPG not only offers commando protection, it also has uniformed agents who conduct an advanced recce of places the protectee is expected to visit. The commandoes are stationed at the residence of the protectee and travel with them whenever they leave the house.

The SPG, formed after the assassination of Indira Gandhi in1984, was initially expected to protect the Prime Minister of India. Rajiv Gandhi’s SPG cover was removed after he was out of office, but following his assassination Sonia Gandhi and her children were given SPG protection in view of a high threat assessment.