Congress attacks UP government on Rahul security lapse issue

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) Taking serious note of the security goof-up during AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's visit to Kanpur on October 24, the Congress today said the incident was 'highly reprehensible." "There was a serious security negligence on the part of the Uttar Pradesh Police,"AICC Spokesman Abishek Manu Singhvi told mediapersons, while charging the Maywati government with trying to make lame excuses to cover up its failures.

He said not only Mr Gandhi, every protectee was entitled to some facility which was accorded by an act of Parliament.

In this context, Dr Singhvi said UP Chief Minister Mayawati herself asked for permission to allow her to go near the 'door of the aircraft in airports." She also demanded upgraded security to which she was not entitled.

But in the case of Mr Gandhi, the kind of security he was provided by the government was by a law of Parliament.

"Luckily, no untoward incident had occurred. Otherwise, it could have been a major national security issue," he said.

Mr Gandhi, the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family, is protected by the elite Special Protection Group (SPS). He enjoys the highest category security cover.

During his October 24 visit to Kanpur, he was allowed to proceed to a function in Chandrasekhar Azad Agriculture University without the mandatory escort and jammer which is used to block any signal in case of a cell phone-triggered explosive device.

This is an important part of the VIP carcade especially of those who are SPG protectees.

The Home Ministry has raised the issue with the UP government, following which an inquiry was ordered.

UNI SH RK1931