Priyanka security breach: Robert Vadra calls it 'very big lapse', says SPG cover removal 'political'
New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband Robert Vadra on Tuesday described as a "very big" security lapse the incident of unidentified people driving up to the porch of their home last week, and alleged that the removal of the Gandhi family's SPG cover was a "political" move.
The Congress general secretary's office has taken up the issue of the November 26 security breach with the Central Reserve Police Force.
"Our security is not important as much as the security of the women in the country. The government should think about it at the national and state level. Our security and of our children is on second level, we have to think about the security of women first," Robert Vadra told reporters.
Asked about the security breach at their residence, he said it was a "very big lapse", but he would like to emphasise more on the safety of women in the country.
"The government would know why they took the call to remove the SPG cover...whatever they do we will face it. People of the country are with us and they will give us security," he said.
Several senior Congress leaders also expressed concern over the alleged security breach with AICC general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal saying the government should not put someone's life in danger for "settling cheap political scores".
"The massive security breach at the residence of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra proves that with the withdrawal of SPG protection, Modi and Shah together have put the lives of our leaders at risk," he said in a tweet.
The car drove right up to the porch near the garden at Priyanka Gandhi's Lodhi Estate home with three men, three women and a girl coming out of the vehicle, sources said. They walked up to Priyanka Gandhi and asked for photos to be taken with her.
She spoke with them nicely, they took pictures with her and then left, the sources said.
On whether there was any response from the Home Ministry over the security breach at their home, Robert Vadra answered in the negative and said "whatever they want to do, they do".
The threat perception everyone knows is very sensitive but nobody is looking at it, he alleged. Asked if the removal of the SPG cover a "political" move or agenda-driven, he said "all this is political". Earlier, in a Facebook post, Robert Vadra claimed that security throughout the country is compromised.
"It is not about the security for Priyanka, my daughter and son or me or the Gandhi family.. It's about keeping our citizens especially the women of our country, safe and secure," he said.
"Security throughout the country is compromised... Girls are being molested/raped, What society are we creating...?" he asked, adding that the security of every citizen is the government's responsibility.
"If we are not safe in our own country, our homes, not safe on roads, not safe in the day or at night, where and when are we safe," he asked.
The Centre last month replaced the SPG (Special Protection Group) cover of the family of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, assassinated by LTTE terrorists on May 21, 1991, with 'Z-plus' security provided by the Central Reserve Police Force.
Under Z-plus security, they are being protected by CRPF commandos in close proximity besides guards at their homes and where ever they travel in the country.
To reporters' queries on SPG cover being removed from the Gandhi family, Priyanka Gandhi had earlier simply replied, "It's part of politics and this keeps happening."
The Gandhis are without SPG protection after 28 years. They were included in the VVIP security list following an amendment in September, 1991 in the SPG Act of 1988.
On November 27, the Lok Sabha passed a bill to amend the SPG Act.
According to the amendment, the SPG will now protect the prime minister and members of his immediate family residing with him at his official residence.
It will also provide security to former prime ministers and their immediate family members staying with them at the residence allotted for a period of five years from the date on which they cease to hold the office.
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Chhattisgarh govt enforces austerity measures, restricts foreign travel and cuts convoy vehicles
Raipur (PTI): The Chhattisgarh government on Saturday rolled out a set of austerity measures, including restricted use of convoy vehicles for the chief minister, ministers and heads of state-run bodies, besides curbs on foreign travel at government expense.
The state has decided to implement the cost-saving steps with immediate effect to ensure efficient management of financial resources and discipline in public spending, said a directive issued by Finance Secretary Rohit Yadav.
The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The order said that only essential vehicles should be used in the convoys of the CM, ministers and office-bearers of corporations, boards and commissions, while ensuring restrained use of other government resources.
It also directed departments to take steps for a phased conversion of all official vehicles into electric vehicles in order to promote the use of EVs.
As part of fuel-saving measures, expenditure on petrol and diesel for government vehicles should be kept to a minimum, the directive said.
Vehicle pooling arrangements should also be implemented for officials of departments travelling to the same destination, it added.
The order further stated that foreign travel of government employees at state expenses will be completely prohibited except under extremely unavoidable circumstances. In such cases, prior approval of the CM will be mandatory.
To reduce administrative expenditure, departments have been instructed to hold physical meetings preferably only once a month and encourage virtual and online meetings. Regular departmental review meetings should compulsorily be conducted through video conferencing, it said.
The government also stressed the need for energy conservation in its offices, directing that all electrical equipment, including lights, fans, air-conditioners and computers, must be switched off after office hours.
The directive will remain effective till September 30 this year.
Amid the war involving the US, Israel and Iran, Modi has suggested reducing petrol and diesel consumption, using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increased use of EVs, utilising railway services for parcel movement and working from home to conserve foreign exchange.
