Use of sniffer dogs at Rajghat enrages MPs

New Delhi, Mar 03: Opposition MPs in both houses of Parliament today (Mar 03, 2006) protested against the US security personnel employing 'sniffer dog' to comb Rajghat premises before the visit of President George Bush.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Shailendra Kumar (Samajwadi Party) took serious exception to the 'desecration' of the Gandhi Samiti where the US security had let the dogs take a round of the 'samadhi' of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi yesterday before the visit of Mr Bush.

Brandishing a copy of the newspaper which reported the incident in its front page, he almost trooped into the well of the house, asserting that the incident 'tantamounts to utter disregard to the dignity of the nation'. In the Rajya Sabha also, members also protested against US securitymen using sniffer dogs.

However, Minister of State for Personnel Suresh Pachouri, attempting to calm the members, said it was a standard security drill which is followed before foreign dignitaries visit Rajghat.

The practice started after the failed assassination attempt on former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, he said.

UNI

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