New Delhi:
In the recently held cabinet meeting on July 19, which NCP leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel skipped, causing a furore in the Congress, a few ministers were dealing with another issue.
Three union ministers headed by Farooq Abdullah, have complained to the Cabinet secretary about the long security drill they underwent at the Prime Ministers home at 7, Race Course Road in Delhi that day, which delayed them for the meeting.
Their complaint says that while entering the Prime Ministers home they had to wait very long for the customary security check that led to a big convoy of cars left standing at the gate.
According to them, on that day, security personnel at the main gate thoroughly checked the cars of the ministers, quite literally peeping into the vehicles to check if the minister was in the car. The name was then ticked off the list. The private secretary travelling with the minister was then asked to get off the car.
Though this is considered the usual security drill a few ministers say that during the last few cabinet meetings, this drill has delayed them in reaching the meeting, especially on that day.
The Cabinet Secretary has promptly agreed to look into this grievance.
One of the ministers told NDTV that while no one was against the security drill at the Prime Minister's residence, no minister should have a harrowing time waiting at the gate for this.