New Delhi: The form, completed by the staff of prominent politicians in Delhi, is an exercise initiated by Mrs Gandhi's husband, Rajiv, when he was Prime Minister in 1987, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today in Parliament, where the Congress accused the government of "political espionage" targeting Rahul Gandhi, Mrs Gandhi's 44-year-old son and No 2 in the party.
Earlier this month, Delhi Police officials visited Mr Gandhi's residence and asked his staff to reveal, among other bits of information, his shoe size and the contact information of his associates. The Congress says that Mr Gandhi, ranked among those who are most vulnerable to security threats, is protected by the Special Protection Group or SPG, and the Delhi Police has no role to play in determining the details of his cover.
However, the government said that the questionnaire presented at his home is routine and one that has been completed in the past by his mother and former premiers, as also Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Through the considerable political commotion, Mr Gandhi remains missing - he has skipped this session of Parliament, somewhat embarrassingly for his party, which has said he is on a "sabbatical" to "contemplate and introspect" the future.
The Congress today declared that contrary to the government's claims, party president Sonia Gandhi did not fill out a Delhi Police form that asks for respondents to list the colour of their hair, eyes, shoe size and any identification marks.
"Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi have never filled out these forms, so they gave a wrong statement," said Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress.
But NDTV has accessed a copy of the questionnaire completed on behalf of Sonia Gandhi in 1998. The document avers that Mrs Gandhi "speaks Hindi, English, Italian"; "uses spectacles for reading"; and wears sarees.
Earlier this month, Delhi Police officials visited Mr Gandhi's residence and asked his staff to reveal, among other bits of information, his shoe size and the contact information of his associates. The Congress says that Mr Gandhi, ranked among those who are most vulnerable to security threats, is protected by the Special Protection Group or SPG, and the Delhi Police has no role to play in determining the details of his cover.
Advertisement
Through the considerable political commotion, Mr Gandhi remains missing - he has skipped this session of Parliament, somewhat embarrassingly for his party, which has said he is on a "sabbatical" to "contemplate and introspect" the future.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Government Lists 6 New Bills For Upcoming Parliament Session. Details Here "Rahul Gandhi Too...": BJP MP's Jibe After Assassination Attempt On Trump BJP Accuses Congress Of Inciting Violence Against PM Modi With 'Maut' And 'Hinsa' Remarks Over 300 Indian Students Return Home As 105 Bangladeshis Die In Protests Bangladesh Imposes Curfew, Deploys Military As 105 Die In Protests "Jindal Group Executive Showed Porn, Groped Me On Flight": Woman To NDTV Global IT Chaos Persists, Flight Delays Expected Even Today: 10 Points Massive Global IT Crash Hits Airlines, Banks, Media: Live Updates "Stakes Are High, Choice Is Clear": Biden Vows To Stay In Presidential Race Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.