New Delhi:
Sharda Tyagi, who was inside the car that was allowed to enter Priyanka Gandhi’s residence without being checked, on Tuesday expressed her "deep anguish" about the poor security arrangement at the Congress leader’s official residence. Tyagi said that she went to Priyanka’s house for the first time and when she went there, security guards didn’t even bother to check who was sitting inside the car.
"I didn't know her (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's) house number and asked about it by calling at Congress office. When I went there, (Security) didn't even care to see who was sitting in the car, barricade was removed immediately and gate was opened," news agency ANI quoted Tyagi as saying.
She also expressed her angst on how the security of Congress national general secretary were left on homeguards. "I was born in the Congress and I am dedicated to the party. I was deeply anguished to see that security (of Priyanka Gandhi) was left on homeguards. I went there for the first time and saw this," she added.
Recently, the Narendra Modi government had removed the SPG security cover of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her two children Rahul and Priyanka. While the Modi government claimed the decision to downgrade the security of Gandhi family was taken after threat assessment, the Congress party alleged personal vendetta.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, countering the charges of the Congress party, told Rajya Sabha that the bill to amend the SPG Bill had nothing to do with the decision to remove Gandhi family’s SPG cover. After the amendment, SPG cover will only be provided to the sitting Prime Minister of the country.
The Special Protection Group (SPG), which consists of highly trained security personnel, was constituted after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. At the time, the SPG would only protect the prime minister. However, after the assassination of Indira Gandhi’s son and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, the SPG Bill was amended and the family members of former prime ministers were also awarded the high-profile protection.
