Amethi:
When Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi landed in Amethi on Friday, they took turns driving a Green Toyota Qualis. Priyanka smiled at the cameras and waved as she drove her brother away. Later, it was Rahul who took the wheel.
On Saturday morning, the same Green Qualis, was hit by a UP police jeep. Both vehicles were part of Priyanka Gandhi's motorcade. Priyanka, however, was travelling in another vehicle at the front of the motorcade. Rahul had returned to Delhi on Friday night.
A close aide of the Gandhis', K L Sharma, was in the Qualis with two other people at the time of the accident. All passengers are safe, but the Qualis has been damaged.
The Gandhis' trip to Amethi has been a tense one on different fronts - on Friday, the UP police shared that it has received a letter from the Central government, complaining of security lapses during Rahul's recent trips to the state. The police, however, says the centre is on shaky ground.
The Gandhis' driving turns on Friday had made the Central government nervous who sent a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Police complaining that Rahul Gandhi's security has been inadequate on his recent trips to the state.
But many senior policemen in UP challenge the Centre's right to complain about security lapses. Last month, during Rahul's trip to the Barabanki district, his Special Protection Guard (SPG) was accused of sneaking him into the state without warning local government or police officials. At that time, it was the UP police who'd threatened to file a complaint about protocol being violated. That never happened. And the Congress party denied that Gandhi's SPG had failed to follow standard procedure.
Last year, Rahul Gandhi found himself without local security when he landed in Kanpur to meet students at the Agriculture University. The move was seen as an attempt by an insecure Mayawati to check Gandhi's influence and popularity in her state.
On Saturday morning, the same Green Qualis, was hit by a UP police jeep. Both vehicles were part of Priyanka Gandhi's motorcade. Priyanka, however, was travelling in another vehicle at the front of the motorcade. Rahul had returned to Delhi on Friday night.
A close aide of the Gandhis', K L Sharma, was in the Qualis with two other people at the time of the accident. All passengers are safe, but the Qualis has been damaged.
The Gandhis' trip to Amethi has been a tense one on different fronts - on Friday, the UP police shared that it has received a letter from the Central government, complaining of security lapses during Rahul's recent trips to the state. The police, however, says the centre is on shaky ground.
The Gandhis' driving turns on Friday had made the Central government nervous who sent a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Police complaining that Rahul Gandhi's security has been inadequate on his recent trips to the state.
But many senior policemen in UP challenge the Centre's right to complain about security lapses. Last month, during Rahul's trip to the Barabanki district, his Special Protection Guard (SPG) was accused of sneaking him into the state without warning local government or police officials. At that time, it was the UP police who'd threatened to file a complaint about protocol being violated. That never happened. And the Congress party denied that Gandhi's SPG had failed to follow standard procedure.
Last year, Rahul Gandhi found himself without local security when he landed in Kanpur to meet students at the Agriculture University. The move was seen as an attempt by an insecure Mayawati to check Gandhi's influence and popularity in her state.
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