Accusing Congress of being concerned only about the security of the Gandhi family, Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday in the Lok Sabha said the SPG protection enjoyed by the family was withdrawn only after the through security review.
Replying to the allegations raised by Congress MPs during the debate on the amendments to the SPG Act, the Home Minister said Congress never raised noise on the security of former Prime Ministers like Chandra Sekhar, Narasimha Rao, Deve Gowda or IK Gujaral and reiterated that the Gandhi family's current security by the CRPF is foolproof. The Bill was passed amid a walkout by the Congress.
Replying to the debate on the SPG (Amendment) Bill, he asserted that the BJP did not carry out any action with a vindictive approach and it was the Congress which took many such decisions in the past. He said that the security cover has in fact been increased for the Gandhi family. Home Minister also narrated several instances of family members skipping the SPG cover and creating problems for the security personnel.
"Impression is being created that the SPG Act is amended to withdrew security from the Gandhi family. This is not the fact. Security of the Gandhi family has not been withdrawn but changed to 'Z-plus' with advance security liaison and ambulance that will be given across the country," he said.
According to the amendment, the SPG will now protect the Prime Minister and members of his immediate family residing with him at his official residence. It will also provide security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate family members staying with them at the residence allotted for a period of five years from the date on which they cease to hold the office.
"This Government wants to provide security to every political party and is already providing the same. But political leaders can't be given equal security as provided to the Prime Minister of the country," he said. Shah said after 2015, Rahul Gandhi has in fact travelled 1,892 times in India and 247 times abroad without informing the SPG. "Members of the Gandhi family have travelled abroad on many occasions without informing the SPG. Instances like this has happened about 600 times." he said.
He said Sonia Gandhi had travelled 50 times in Delhi, 13 times in various parts of India and 29 times abroad without informing the SPG. Priyanka Gandhi had travelled 339 times in Delhi without taking the SPG cover, 64 times in different parts of the country and 94 times abroad, he said.
Shah said the Director of the Intelligence Bureau personally went to meet former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and conveyed to him about withdrawing SPG cover and assured him that after threat assessment, there was no need for the SPG. "Manmohan Singh Ji himself asked Director IB to do what he feels is right. There's no point of not responding to his letter," he said.
The Home Minister said the IB Director sought time from the members of the Gandhi family to inform them about the decision of withdrawal of SPG coverage but was told "whatever you want to do, please go ahead". Shah said post threat-assessment, protection was removed for family members of IK Gujral and Narasimha Rao among others.
"No one made a noise... I want to assure that no security has been reduced. Instead, it has been increased. Why do you need the SPG cover? Congress needs to learn to accept the people's mandate. They are not in power anymore," he said.
Without taking name of Rahul Gandhi, the Home Minister at one point said to agitating Congress MPs that one of the person concerned used to go for late night bike ride in the capital at a speed of 100 km per hour.
Participating in the debate, Congress MPs Manish Tewari and Gaurav Gogoi said the SPG withdrawal shows the negative attitude of the BJP Government against its political opponents. Satya Pal Singh (BJP) said that SPG cover should be provided only to Prime Minister and not to anyone else. A Raja (DMK) claimed the amendment was being undertaken for political reasons.
Sudip Bandyopadhyay (Trinamool Congress) said that the Government should review the CRPF security being provided to various persons including political leaders. KG Madhav (YSRCP) and Rajiv Ranjan Singh (JD-U) said that security should not linked to social status but must be based on threat perception. PR Natarajan (CPI-M) said that law making should be undertaken to settle personal vendetta and urged the Home Minister to withdraw the Bill.