Cong, DMK walk out of LS over Gandhi family SPG cover

Congress on Tuesday targeted the Modi government in the Lok Sabha over withdrawal of Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover for party president Sonia Gandhi and her two children – Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Raising the issue in Lok Sabha, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the family faces threat to life and their SPG security should not have been withdrawn. Congress had given a notice to move an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha over the withdrawal of SPG cover, but it was rejected by the government.

“Sonia Gandhi ji & Rahul Gandhi ji are not normal protectees. Vajpayee ji (former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee) was allowed Special Protection Group (SPG) protection till his death last year. From 1991-2019, NDA came to power twice but SPG cover of the Gandhi family was not removed,” Chowdhury said.

DMK leader T R Baalu supported the Congress and said that the removal of SPG security had put the lives of the Gandhi family at risk.

Incidentally, Chowdhury and Baalu made no reference to the withdrawal of SPG security for former prime minister Manmohan Singh.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal said Chowdhury cannot raise the issue in Zero Hour as he had not given notice in this regard.

Congress members were heard shouting slogans such as “please stop revenge politics”, “end dictatorship” and “we want justice”.

DMK and Congress members staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha over the issue.

The government recently removed the SPG security to the Gandhi family after a review of the threat perception to them. The Gandhis will now be protected by commandos of the CRPF under the Z-Plus category.

The government’s move to remove the SPG security led to sharp reactions from the Congress, which accused the government of personal vendetta.