SPG Bill cleared in LS, Cong hits out at Centre
Cong accuses Shah of ‘political vendetta’; minister says law was changed for ‘one family’
NEWDELHI: Sparks flew in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday between the Congress-led Opposition and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government before the latter managed to clear the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill that restricts SPG coverage to former PMs and their families for five years.
Congress floor leader Adhir Chowdhury accused Union home minister Amit Shah of engaging in politics of vendetta and Shah hit back, saying the Gandhi family had travelled on many occasions keeping the SPG in the dark. Shah also launched a counter-offensive, saying the earlier SPG Act had been amended only to serve one particular family, referring to the Gandhis.
“I have no hesitation in saying on record that the changes that were made to the Bill earlier were made keeping in mind a single family,” Shah said, detailing of instances of Congress leaders travelling without the SPG’s protective cover. He insisted that the amendments were not motivated by any political vendetta, but to strengthen the PM’s security.
Shah also said an effort was being made to show that the government had withdrawn security cover from the Gandhi family -Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -- but in reality their protection had only been changed based on the threat assessment.
“We support all steps that are taken for the security of P MNarendra Modi. But your (Amit Shah) speech has made it clear that there is political vendetta. You are targeting a family that has sacrificed two lives for the nation,” Chowdhury said in the Lok Sabha, referring to assassinated prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.
Shah later countered him, saying earlier governments had withdrawn SPG cover from PMs Chandrasekhar, IK Gujral, PV Narasimha Rao and HD Devegowda. According to the PRS Legislative Research: “The amendments to the SPG bill suggests that Bill amends this provision to state that the SPG will provide security to the PM, and members of his immediate family residing with him at his official residence. It will also provide security to any former Prime Ministers, and his immediate family members residing with him at the residence allotted to him. This security will be provided for five years from the date on which he ceases to hold the office.”
Home minister Shah detailed how Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had bypassed SPG cover. “The Gandhi family members have been on several trips without informing the SPG. .. hat secrets were hidden? Look at Rajnath (Singh) Ji. For many years security personnel even dropped him till the toilet and he never said anything.”
Shah told the House that Con gress president Sonia Gandhi. from 2015 till now, had on more than 50 occasions had attended programmes without informing the Delhi government and national security agencies. “She undertook 13 unplanned trips and did not use the SPG bulletproof car. After 2015, she did not inform the SPG personnel on her 24 foreign trips,” he said.
“Priyanka Gandhi on 339 occasions in Delhi and 64 occasions in other parts of the country went without SPG cover. Since 1991, on her 99 international visits she took the SPG cover only during 21 visits ,” Shah added. On Rahul Gandhi, Shah said: “From 20052014, he went on 18 trips around the country without a bulletproof car and informing the SPG. And since 2015, Rahul Gandhi has undertaken 1,892 trips in India and 247 trips while outside India without informing the SPG.”
Before Shah’s reply , Congress leader Manish Tewari demanded that SPG cover should be provided to former PMs and their family members for the rest of their lives. The three Gandhis will continue to get Z+ security status and would now be protected by the CRPF.
When BJP’s Satyapal Singh started giving reference of what happens in England and China, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla told the MP, “Don’t talk about what happens in China or England. You should concentrate on what happens in India.”