Rahul breaches 'security', goes missing

Bhubaneshwar, Mar 13: Rahul Gandhi's 'Discovery of India' tour sparked off a bit of controversy when the Congress"s scion went missing in a Naxal-infested area.

Rahul seems to be following his father"s footsteps, particularly when it comes to breaking the security cordon to connect with the aam aadmi. During his recently concluded four-day-Orissa tour, Rahul who was staying in Nalco guest house at Damanjodi suddenly slipped-out at 8.15 pm with the SPG personnel without informing the local administration. He went to a village 25 km away, reportedly to see some developmental works under the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. When the Koraput SP wanted to follow Rahul"s car, he was prevented by the SPG, he said.

Rahul returned to the guest house after four hours with the SPG personnel, he said and alleged that it was a major breach of security in the Naxalite-dominated area.

The BJD member alleged that the night trip was planned by a retired IAS officer from North East working in the Rajiv Gandhi Forum.

The district police were unaware of this visit, which created quite a stir. Authorities complained that the SPG also misbehaved with the local SP and while Rahul was in the village, local people confronted the armed SPG team with traditional weapons, thinking they were anti-social elements.

The incident upset Chief Minister Navin Patnaik and the state Home department has lodged a complaint with the Union Home Ministry.

OneIndia News