Priyanka offers to give up SPG security

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday volunteered to give up her Special Protection Group (SPG) security status that allows her and her family from being frisked at airports.

Vadra’s offer to give up the SPG status comes in the wake of reports that the Modi government would review the privileges she, her husband Vadra and children enjoy under the Special Protection Group Act.

Priyanka has written a letter to SPG Director K Durga Prasad requesting him to withdraw the special privileges she enjoys by virtue of being a SPG protectee.

According to rules, Robert Vadra is extended SPG privileges only when accompanied by his wife Priyanka.

After taking over as aviation minister on Thursday, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati said that “security should be meaningful not ornamental” in reference to Vadra, the only individual named in the list of dignitaries exempt from security checks at airports.

Only people occupying high constitutional positions are entitled to SPG protection. AICC spokesperson Shashi Tharoor parried questions on Robert Vadra being extended special privileges at airports.

“The issue of security of people of the country should not be politicised. Congress has nothing to do with either the grant or withdrawal of security to anyone.

We have always believed that security is a matter which should always be left to security agencies. They have to decide to whom and how they have to provide security,” Tharoor said.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has 30 positions on the exempt list which begins with the President of India and goes upto special protection group protectees.

The only individual listed in that list (on number 31) is Robert Vadra, Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law.

In a letter to civil aviation secretary Ashok Lavasa last week, the Air Passengers' Association of India questioned the special privilege to Vadra provided only for those occupying constitutional positions.