New Delhi: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has raised concerns over repeated lapses in security protocol by Rahul Gandhi during his foreign trips.
In a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, CRPF on Thursday warned that such breaches could expose him to serious risks.
CRPF’s VVIP Security Chief Sunil June pointed out that despite enjoying Z+ cover with an Advance Security Liaison (ASL) team, the Congress MP has skipped mandatory protective measures multiple times.
The CRPF official alleged that Rahul was not taking his security cover “seriously”, and mostly travelling abroad “without informing anyone.”
The letter referred to Rahul’s foreign visits to Italy (December 30 to January 9), Vietnam (March 12 to 17), Dubai (April 17 to 23), Qatar (June 11 to 18), London (June 25 to July 6) and Malaysia (September 4 to 8), and stated that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha is violating protocols mentioned in the Yellow Book of the CRPF.
The Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) also conveyed the matter to Congress chief in a separate letter, reported ANI.
Congress questions timing
Congress questioned the timing and “public release” of the CRPF letter, saying it raises “disturbing” questions as it comes in the wake of Rahul’s ‘vote chori’ campaign against the BJP.
“The timing and the way this content of this so-called letter have emerged through the media raises very important questions — why this particular time was chosen by the government. We know that the government is very nervous about the ‘vote chori’ campaign,” said Congress leader Pawan Khera.
“We also know that the PM is very worried about the so-called hydrogen bomb which Mr Gandhi has spoken about… You should be worried, you have every reason to be worried but do not make the issue of the security of the LoP, especially a person who has lost two family members, a political issue. Do not politicise this issue. You should not have leaked the contents of this letter, a sensitive matter like security of Mr Gandhi in public,” added Khera.
BJP asks if there is some secrecy abroad
BJP’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said if Rahul Gandhi repeatedly violates security protocol during foreign visits, then some questions will arise.
“What is it during foreign visits that he doesn’t trust his own security and breaks protocols? Is some content coming from there? Is something being done in secrecy? He feels more safer in foreign nations… If something happens tomorrow, will the security agencies be blamed? Congress should ask him what secret meetings he conducts on foreign visits that he violates security?” asked Poonawalla.
The CRPF had written to Rahul over his security cover in 2022 also. The Congress leader violated security guidelines on 113 occasions since 2020, including Delhi leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, CRPF had said then.
The Congress has alleged lapses in security arrangements during the Kashmir leg of Bharat Jodo yatra, when Rahul was stuck in the middle of a crowd and couldn’t move for about 30 minutes.
A few days before that, the Congress had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleging ‘security breaches’ during Bharat Jodo Yatra when it entered Delhi.
Last month, an unidentified man suddenly hugged Rahul and planted a kiss on his shoulder when he was on a two-wheeler during the ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ in Bihar.
