The Union government’s decision to withdraw Special Protection Group (SPG) cover for Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, was strongly criticised by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah, here on Friday.
He termed the move as reflective of politics of vendetta and expressed concern that the country was headed towards a dictatorial regime.
Demanding that the SPG cover be restored immediately to the Congress leaders, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the party would hit the streets and launch an agitation against the move.
“The SPG cover was extended to them based on the threat perception as two members of the family — Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi — were assassinated,” said Mr. Siddaramaiah.
He said there was nothing to warrant the withdrawal of the SPG cover as the threat perception had not diminished. “The Union government will be held responsible for any untoward incident as a fallout of the SPG cover to these leaders being withdrawn,” he said, and reiterated that it was the Centre’s responsibility to provide security and safeguard the lives of leaders facing threat to their lives.
When pointed out that Mr. Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly breached the SPG protocols as per a government report, Mr. Siddaramaiah shot back stating that this was no reason to withdraw the SPG cover and wondered what protocol had Ms. Sonia Gandhi breached.
