PM Modi's estranged wife Jashodaben speaks to NDTV at her home
An RTI application by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's estranged wife Jashodaben seeking details of her security was raised in Parliament today by a Congress member.
Madhusudan Mistry, who lost to PM Modi in Vadodara by a record margin in the May national election, tried to raise the subject in the Rajya Sabha, but was rebuffed by Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien.
"You give notice. If your name is not there, give notice again. Don't Trouble," Mr Kurien told the Congress leader.
Earlier this week, Jashodaben filed an application seeking details of what sort of security she was entitled to as the prime minister's wife.
The retired school teacher said in the application: "I am the wife of the Prime Minister and as per protocol, I seek details on what other facilities other than security cover I am entitled to...I should be provided a certified copy of the order under which security is provided to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's family members, brothers, sisters and me."
She later told NDTV, "I feel inconvenienced when I have to travel in public transport and am followed by security in official cars."
Mr Modi has not commented on reports that he had an arranged marriage with Jashodaben when he was 17. In earlier interviews, she has said that he left her after three years and that the parting was amicable.
In April, in election papers declaring him a candidate for Parliament, Mr Modi wrote the name "Jashodaben" in a column on his marital status, which ignited a political storm in the run up to the election. He had left the column blank in past polls, including in the Gujarat state election in 2012.
The Congress party had said that Mr Modi's failure to acknowledge his marriage suggested that he does not respect women.
After Mr Modi was elected in May, Jashodaben was given round-the-clock security; she is protected by 10 commandos, five per shift, provided by the Gujarat government.