A day after the Congress alleged security breach during the Bharat Jodo Yatra in the national Capital, the CRPF on Thursday said full security arrangements have been made for former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and accused him of repeatedly violating security protocol.
In a note to the Union Home Ministry, the CRPF said Rahul himself “violated” security protocol 113 times since 2020. The paramilitary also blamed Rahul for breaching security guidelines during the Delhi leg of the yatra.
On Wednesday, the Congress wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging security breaches during the yatra in the city and demanded immediate steps to ensure the security of Rahul and others taking part in the march. “The security arrangements have been fully made for Rahul as per the guidelines,” the CRPF said.
The security arrangements made for the protectee works fine when the protectee himself adheres to the laid down security guidelines. On several occasions, violations of laid-down guidelines on the part of Rahul have been observed and this fact has been communicated to him from time to time, officials said.
Since 2020, there have been 113 “violations” observed and duly communicated. During the Delhi leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul “violated” security guidelines and the CRPF, which provides his inner cordon of the Z-plus category security, will take up the matter separately, the note said.
During the travel of the protectee, the required security arrangements are made by the CRPF in coordination with the State police and the security agencies in accordance with guidelines.
Advisories based on threat assessment have been issued by the Home Ministry to all stakeholders concerned including the State Governments.
An Advance Security Liaison (ASL) is also undertaken for every visit, the officials said.
For the Delhi leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra on December 24, the ASL involving all stakeholders was conducted on December 22 and all security protocols have been strictly followed, they said.
The Delhi Police has informed that sufficient deployment of security personnel was made for it, they said.
AICC general secretary K C Venugopal had said in the letter to Shah that the Government should not indulge in vindictive politics and ensure the safety and security of the Congress leaders.
Referring to instances of “miscreants” entering the Yatra camp site illegally, Venugopal had alleged that they were Haryana’s intelligence security personnel, who interrogated people who took part in the Yatra.
“The security of the yatra was compromised on multiple occasions following its entry into Delhi on Saturday. Delhi Police completely failed to control the surging crowds and maintain a perimeter around Rahul, who has “Z+ Security,” he had alleged.
He said the situation was so severe that Congress workers and ‘Bharat yatris’ walking with Rahul had to form a security perimeter and “the Delhi Police remained mute spectators”.
Venugopal also sought improved security for the yatra as it is set to enter the sensitive states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Kanyakumari to Kashmir yatra is scheduled to resume on January 3, 2023, after taking a nine-day break in Delhi.