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- Congress also called for better security arrangements for Rahul Gandhi and the Bharat Jodo Yatra enters Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab
- ‘Violations of laid down guidelines on the part of Rahul Gandhi have been observed on several occasions’
- elhi Police completely failed in controlling the surging crowd and maintaining a perimeter around Rahul Gandhi, who is assigned Z+ Security’
A day after the Congress raised the issue of security breaches in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) responded to the claims and said that the Gandhi scion himself violated the security protocols on “several occasions”. Since 2020, Rahul Gandhi has 113 violations observed and “duly communicated,” claimed CRPF on Thursday.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah that Gandhi’s security was compromised on several occasions when the Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Delhi on December 24.
The CRPF stated in its rebuttal that the force makes security arrangements for Gandhi in coordination with state police and other agencies. “It may be pointed out that during visits of the protectee, the required security arrangements are made by the CRPF in coordination with state police/security agencies as per guidelines. Advisories based on threat assessment have been issued by the ministry of home affairs to all stakeholders concerned including the state governments. Advance Security Liaison (ASL) is also undertaken for every visit,” said an officer, quoting the CRPF’s response.
The CRPF said: “Violations of laid down guidelines on the part of Rahul Gandhi have been observed on several occasions & this fact has been communicated to him from time to time.” The CRPF provides an inner cordon of the Congress leader’s Z-plus level security.
“It may further be mentioned that during the Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, the protectee has violated security guidelines and CRPF will be taking up this matter separately,” the statement said. “It may be pointed out that during visits of the protectee, the required security arrangements are made by the CRPF in coordination with state police & security agencies,” it added.
Congress had written to Home Ministry claiming that Delhi Police “completely failed in controlling the surging crowd and maintaining a perimeter around Rahul Gandhi, who is assigned Z+ Security.” It also added that the condition was so poor that the Bharat Yatris and the Congress workers had to create a security perimeter as the Delhi Police allegedly stayed “mute spectators.”












