The Congress has alleged breach in party president Rahul Gandhi’s security in Uttar Pradesh during his visit to Amethi in Uttar Pradesh to file his
nominations this week. In a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, three senior Congress leaders have asked the centre to “probe and neutralize the threat, if any,” and ensure that the protocol relating the Congress president’s security detail is strictly followed.
In its letter, the Congress said a green laser was pointed 7 times at Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s head when he was interacting with the media after filing his nominations
It was around this time that, the Congress said, “…a laser (green) was pointed at his head, intermittently on at least 7 separate occasions in a short period; including twice at his temple on the right side of the head”.
The Congress also sent a video clip of his media interaction to Home Minister Rajnath Singh along with the joint letter signed by Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Singh Surjewala.
“A perusal of the video by various persons including former security personnel leads to a prima facie conclusion that this laser could emanate from a potential weapon such as a sniper gun,” the letter said.
“Even a possibility like this is a cause of serious alarm and concern pointing towards a breach in the security of Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi,” the Congress leaders said. “All of us are deeply shocked and distressed at the possibility of the Congress president being targeted by a potential assassin.”
The Congress also cited the assassination of Rahul’s father and grandmother, former prime ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi, to assert that the security breach was “a cause of grave and pressing concern”.
“We urge you to immediately take note of this grave and unacceptable security threat as also the security lapse in the security of the Congress president… This is also an alarming lapse on part of the UP administration which is responsible for the peripheral security,” the party said.
The Congress told the home minister that Rahul Gandhi’s security was the “first responsibility” of the central government and the home ministry.
“Rahul Gandhi being a high risk target is especially vulnerable during the extensive electioneering in the ongoing 2019 elections,” the letter said.
During the Karnataka elections last year, the Congress had suspected sabotage when a plane taking Rahul Gandhi from Delhi to Karnataka for his poll campaign sudenly plunged and shuddered violently despite clear weather. A Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) investigation report released later blamed it on an error in the Flight Control Computer and a delay by the crew in dealing with the situation.