Congress leaders today staged a protest outside Home Minister Amit Shah's residence after the government's decision to withdraw the Gandhi family's Special Protection Group (SPG) cover. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will now have Z plus category protection. A furious Congress lashed out the government, accusing it "playing with the lives" of the Gandhi family. Sources close to the family say they were not informed about the decision and found out from media reports. Z plus security means each of the Gandhis will be guarded by around 100 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The elite force SPG are now tasked with protecting only Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Here are the LIVE updates on centre withdrawing Gandhis' Special Protection Group cover:
Rahul Gandhi's Message To SPG After Centre's Move: A Big Thank YouSenior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has tweeted a 'thank you' note for the Special Protection Group (SPG) after the centre decided to withdraw the elite security cover given to him and his family 28 years ago. Mr Gandhi expressed his gratitude to the force for "tirelessly" protecting him and his family."
Removal of SPG cover for #SoniaGandhi @RahulGandhi @priyankagandhi is highly condemnable as it could help terrorists. The downgrading of security has been done in the same manner reduced to the Late Rajiv Gandhi on the pretext of less threat perception.
- KS_Alagiri (@KS_Alagiri) November 8, 2019
SPG Cover To Gandhi Family Withdrawn: Rahul Gandhi Used Non-Bullet Resistant Car 1,892 Times Say SourcesAccording to news agency IANS, withdrawal of SPG cover for the Gandhi family comes after multiple violations of protection guidelines between 2015 and May 2019"
Despite a clear threat to the Gandhi family, which has lost two family member & PMs to terror attacks. The decision of the Govt to reduce their security cover looks politicallly motivated. This is putting their lives at risk. Their SPG cover should be immediately reinstated.
- Sachin Pilot (@SachinPilot) November 8, 2019
