Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday dismissed the allegations of violation of security norms during his Orissa visit. Rahul said that he did not require anyone’s permission to meet people. However, sections within his party expressed concern about the risks involved in taking such steps.

“I know the concerns of security. I don’t need the permission of SPG or SP to meet people,” Mr Gandhi said. He had made this statement after his reported violation of security norms, while visiting undisclosed places in Naxalite-affected Koraput region at night time without informing local police, was raised in Lok Sabha by BJD’s Braj Kishore Tripathi. “My intention was to remove the distance between the leader and people,” Mr Gandhi said.