State writes to Centre after man stops Rahul’s convoy

Additional DGP (Law & Order) Subesh Kumar Singh,who confirmed that a letter had been sent,said Rahul Gandhi is protected by the SPG,and the state police is supposed get advance information about his visits in order to provide him proper security cover.

There had been several instances when the MP took the UP police by surprise by arriving without advance information.

This time too,the state government had no information about Rahul Gandhi’s visit and his tour programme,the ADG said,and informed that the state government had sent similar letters to the central government in the past.

Rahul Gandhi arrived in Varanasi on November 1 and returned to Delhi on Thursday evening after visiting villages in Chandauli,Mirzapur,Bhadohi,Jaunpur and other areas of eastern UP.

Jaunpur SP SK Bhagat said he had sent a report to the DGP’s office and the security department that he received no information from the SPG team escorting Rahul Gandhi about his visit to the district and had to make hurried arrangements.

In the past,men carrying licensed firearms have been caught near Rahul Gandhi in Noida,Aligarh and Amethi on May 12,July 7 and October 20,respectively.

When Sanjay Prajapati (27) stopped Rahul Gandhi’s cavalcade on Thursday morning,the securitymen tried to take him away but Rahul Gandhi intervened and listened to him. The man said that a lawyer,with help from officials in the district administration,had grabbed his land by forging papers.

Rahul Gandhi asked the local Congress candidate Nadeem Javed to take up Prajapati’s case and pursue it to a logical conclusion.

Prajapati,who earns his living by making earthen pots,said he had approached various authorities for help and had also met PWD Minister Naseemuddin a few months back,but nothing happened. Therefore,he decided to force his way and stop Rahul Gandhi’s cavalcade to tell him his story.