‘Govt lax on Jaipal security’

Reddy was taken to Vevanta of the Taj Hotel in Lucknow rather than the VVIP guest house of the state government. “He is a Union Cabinet minister thus state government should answer for this lacuna in his security” said Joshi.

However,district administration,Lucknow denied the Congress charges and said Congress leaders ignored the security made available for the minister. “Our officers along with vehicle as well as security were there on spot when the Union Minister arrived but I do not know why they were ignored,” said Anil Sagar,District Magistrate,Lucknow.

Meanwhile,Additional City Magistrate (ACM-6),SK Singh,who was sent by the state government on protocol duty of the Minister,said,“I was present there when the minister arrived. I went to welcome him but was pushed back by the crowd. Even the police team headed by Circle Officer on VIP duty was there but because of the crowd there was a utter confusion. We saw him (the minister) moving inside a vehicle along with Rita Bahuguna Joshi.”

While he claimed the state officials’ team followed Reddy’s vehicle till the hotel and also from the hotel back to the airport,Congress leaders denied his claim and said that no official was seen either at the Airport or even at Ravindralaya,where Reddy was to deliver a lecture.