Delhi Police on Friday said former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi did not follow the security protocols, and that the authorities DID ensure complete security arrangements were in place during his Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite India March).
All units of Delhi Police - security, traffic and special branch - have submitted their reports.
The response was meant to clarify concerns of the federal Home Ministry after Congress complained that there had been an alleged security breach during Gandhi's march in Delhi last Saturday.
In its report, the Delhi Police said that plain clothes policemen were deployed and a security cordon was in place for Gandhi, but he himself was spotted venturing outside the cordon.
On Thursday, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), India's paramilitary force, stated in its rebuttal that the Congress parliamentarian broke security protocols several times.
“For instance, since 2020, there have been 113 violations observed and duly communicated. It may further be mentioned that during the Delhi leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra, the protectee violated security guidelines and the CRPF will be taking up this matter separately,” the Indian paramilitary force said in its letter to the MHA.
In his letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal claimed police completely failed to control the surging crowd and maintain a perimeter around Gandhi, who is assigned Z+ security status.
‘Z+’ is the highest category of security in India which comprises round-the-clock cover by between 50 and 55 personnel, including nearly 10 commandoes from the country’s elite National Security Guard (NSG).
Congress was scheduled to hold a press conference over the issue but have postponed it to Saturday after the death of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother, aged 99, in Ahmedabad this morning.