Row over Rahul Gandhi’s security: Here’s all you need to know

The Congress had complained to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the Delhi Police for not paying attention to Bharat Jodo Yatra's stringent security. (File Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Controversy has erupted over Rahul Gandhi’s security during the Delhi leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, with his party Congress blaming the Delhi Police for a breach and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) reportedly saying the leader himself broke protocol while in the national capital.

On Wednesday, the Congress had complained to Union home minister Amit Shah about the Delhi Police. The Delhi Police and the CRPF come under the central government. Here’s all you need to know.

WHAT CONGRESS HAD SAID

Congress leader KC Venugopal wrote to Amit Shah about security breaches in the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Delhi and asked him to ensure the safety of all yatris. Venugopal highlighted the assassination of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi and the wiping out of the Congress leadership in Chhattisgarh to drive home his point for proper security for the yatra and said the government should not indulge in vindictive politics.

Venugopal said the yatra’s security was compromised on multiple occasions and the Delhi Police completely failed to control the surging crowds and maintain a perimeter around Rahul Gandhi, who has Z+ Security. “The situation was so severe that Congress workers and Bharat Yatris walking with Rahul Gandhi had to form a security perimeter. At the same time, Delhi Police remained a mute spectator,” he said.

Also Read: Provide security to Rahul Gandhi: Congress writes to Centre over breaches

CENTRAL FORCES RESPOND

According to sources, the CRPF has said security arrangements work fine when the protectee adheres to guidelines.

However, on several occasions, violations of guidelines by Rahul Gandhi have been observed and this has been communicated to him from time to time, the CRPF has reportedly said.

According to sources, since 2020, there have been 113 violations observed and communicated. The CRPF will separately take up security guideline violations by Rahul Gandhi during the Delhi leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

‘ALL GUIDELINES FOLLOWED’

According to sources, the CRPF has now informed Union home minister Shah that full security arrangements have been made for Rahul Gandhi as per the guidelines. During his visits, required security arrangements are made by the CRPF in coordination with the state police/security agencies as per guidelines, the force has reportedly said.

Advisories based on threat assessment have been issued by the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) to all stakeholders including the state governments, the CRPF has said, adding advance Security Liaison (ASL) is also undertaken for every visit.

For the Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, ASL involving all stakeholders was conducted on December 22 and all security guidelines have been strictly followed, and Delhi Police has informed that sufficient deployment of security personnel was made.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi violated security guidelines, 113 violations since 2020: CRPF over breaches

WHY RAHUL’S SECURITY IS A CONCERN

Rahul’s grandmother, prime minister Indira Gandhi, was assassinated in 1984 by her Sikh security guards in response to her decision to send army troops to Amritsar’s Golden Temple, killing Khalistani separatists and their leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

Rahul Gandhi’s father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was assassinated by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terrorists for his decision as PM to send Indian peace-keeping forces to Sri Lanka.

Rahul Gandhi’s security is also a concern because his Bharat Jodo Yatra will now move to the border state of Punjab and then to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, where Pakistan-backed terrorists have often carried out terror attacks.

Also Read: Is Rahul Gandhi's ‘evolution’ on the Bharat Jodo Yatra for real?

WHY THE CONTROVERSY

Security is a serious business but aspects of it often fall victim to party politics. In blaming the central forces for the security breach in the Delhi leg of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, some Congress leaders have also tried to insinuate that the BJP-led central government is rattled by the mass-contact foot march and is letting disruptions happen.

Last year, the security breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cavalcade in Punjab sparked a furious Centre vs state battle that also reached the Supreme Court. The BJP-led Centre accused the then Congress-led Punjab government of leaking information about the PM’s route to protesting farmers who ended up blocking the Prime Minister's cavalcade. The blockade resulted in PM Modi being stranded on a flyover for around 20 minutes. The cavalcade then took a U-turn.