Congress writes to Amit Shah over security breach in Bharat Jodo Yatra

Venugopal said the police failed to secure a perimeter around Rahul Gandhi and Congress workers had to do the needful

Congress on Wednesday shot off a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah accusing the Delhi Police of compromising the security of its leader Rahul Gandhi during Bharat Jodo Yatra in the national capital and "completely" failing in controlling surging crowd and maintaining a perimeter around the Z+ category protectee.

Party General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal demanded that the government "should not indulge in vindictive politics" and ensure the safety and security of Rahul and others participating in the 3,570 km Kanyakumari to Kashmir yatra.

In his letter, Venugopal claimed there were "significant security breaches" after the yatra entered the capital on December 24.

"The security of the Bharat Jodo Yatra was compromised on multiple occasions and Delhi Police completely failed in controlling the surging crowd and maintaining a perimeter around Rahul Gandhi, who is assigned Z+ security," he said.

With the party also releasing a 1.09 minute video, Venugopal said the situation was "so severe" that the Congress workers and Bharat Yatris walking along Rahul Gandhi had to form the perimeter while the Delhi Police "remained a mute spectator."

Referring to the complaint filed by Congress leader Vaibhav Walia in Haryana's Sohna, he alleged that "unknown miscreants belonging to Haryana State Intelligence illegally entered" Bharat Jodo Yatra's containers. He also claimed Intelligence Bureau officials were "interrogating many people" who participated in the yatra.

Emphasising that Article 19 of the Constitution provides the right to assemble and move freely throughout the country, he said the 'padayatra' is to bring peace and harmony in the country and "the government should not indulge in vindictive politics and ensure the safety and security of the Congress leaders."