Irked by Rahul’s secret visit,cops complain to SPG

Rahul had arrived in Gorakhpur in a special train on October 18 afternoon and had later left the place in a private vehicle. The Gorakhpur DIG,Asim Arun told The Indian Express that they were informed about Union Minister (Commerce & Industry) Anand Sharma arriving in Gorakhpur by a special plane. A police team which was sent to the airbase for necessary security arrangements for Sharma,informed the DIG about Rahul’s arrival over there.

The DIG said he called up the SPG people and inquired if they needed security cover from the police. But,the SPG men refused to take the help and told him that Gandhi had already left the district,Arun added.

In addition to the several letters written by the state government to the Centre over Rahul’s visit earlier,Chief Minister Mayawati too had sent letters on the issue to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister on September 25,2009. She had then stated that it was the responsibility of the SPG to furnish all the information regarding the programmes of the SPG-protected VVIPs.

The CM had,in those letters,also referred to Rahul’s arrival at Amausi airport,Lucknow on September 23,2009 by Kingfisher Airlines without any prior information. Rahul had then proceeded through road route under SPG cover without informing the police or any other agencies of the state.

The state Home department had then sent letters to the Central government over security issue arising out of Rahul’s visits to Kheri,Bahraich,Sitapur,Hardoi,Kanpur,Etah,Farrukhabad and Aligarh districts in 2008 and 2009.