New Delhi:
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed a bill to amend the Act governing the elite-Special Protection Group (SPG) with Home Minister Amit Shah rejecting the opposition's charge of political vendetta and asserting the government was concerned about security of all 130 crore Indians and not just the Gandhi family.
Replying to a debate on the SPG (Amendment) Bill, Shah said that the BJP does not carry out any action with a vindictive approach and it was the Congress that took many such decisions in the past.
He said no discussion happened when security cover reviews with respect to former prime ministers including PV Narasimha Rao, IK Gujral, Chandra Shekhar, HD Deve Gowda and recently Manmohan Singh were undertaken.
SPG Act Bill In Rajya | Highlights:
Home Minister Amit Shah during discussion on SPG Bill: "CPI(M) ko toh haq hi nahi hai ye kehne ka ki political vendetta se sarkaar chal rahi hai, aapne isi political vendetta se Kerala mein 120 BJP karyakarta maar diye gaye."
Rajya Sabha passes Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill 2019 restricting use of elite SPG. Congress, Left and DMK staged a walkout from the House.
Congress walks out of Rajya Sabha saying it is dissatisfied with Home Minister's reply on amendment to SPG Act.
Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha: "Security cannot be made a status symbol. Why demand only SPG? SPG cover is meant for only the 'head of the state', we cannot be giving it to everyone. We don't oppose one family, we are against dynasty politics."
"120 workers of the BJP, the RSS were killed in Kerala, says Home Minister Amit Shah replying to charge of the BJP government acting with political vendetta.
"No discussion when SPG security cover of Manmohan Singh and other non-Gandhi families was withdrawn," said the Home Minister
Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on SPG Bill: "This is the 5th amendment in the SPG Act. This amendment is not brought in by keeping Gandhis in mind, but, one thing that I can say for sure is that the previous 4 amendments were done by keeping only one family in mind."
Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha on SPG Bill: "It's not true that we've brought the SPG Bill by keeping only Gandhi family in mind. Security from Gandhis was withdrawn after the threat assessment analysis even before bringing this bill."
