CRPF denies Priyanka Gandhi’s security breach, blames her for scooter ride at Lucknow protest

While Priyanka Gandhi said she was grabbed by the neck and fell down, police denied this.

चाहे गला दबाओ या धक्का मारो
आवाज़ कभी न होगी कम।
कान खोल कर सुन लो हुकूमत
हम डटे रहेंगे, चाहे जितना कर ले सितम।

अजय बिष्ट सरकार के जबरदस्ती बल प्रयोग से न तो श्रीमती @PriyankaGandhi डरने वाली है और न ही कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ता। कांग्रेस जनता की आवाज उठाती रहेगी। #UPmeinGundaraj pic.twitter.com/kz2IWGLH8H

— Congress (@INCIndia) December 28, 2019

The CRPF which provides Priyanka Gandhi armed commandos under the ‘Z+’ category of security cover to her, said the Congress leader undertook “unscheduled” movement without intimation. Therefore, an advanced security liaison (ASL) could not be conducted, it said in a statement. Despite the security constraints, the CRPF provided appropriate security cover, it said. “During travelling the protectee used non-bullet resistant civil vehicle without a personal security officer,” the statement said.

The Congress lodged an official complaint on the “breach” in security of the party leader, and against Hazratganj Circle Officer Abhay Mishra and other police personnel over their “misconduct”. The party also wrote a letter to the CRPF IG, Delhi. Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra, meanwhile, said he was “extremely disturbed” by the incident but was “proud” of the Congress leader for “being compassionate and for reaching out to people who need you.”

The BJP, meanwhile, accused her of ‘‘nautanki’ (theatrics). “Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi does not want the welfare of the people of Lucknow. ‘Nautanki’ (dramatics) will not fetch votes for the Congress, and what’s remaining of the party will also be finished,” UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya wrote on Twitter. The driver of the scooter on which Priyanka rode pillion was fined Rs 6,100 as both of them were not wearing helmets.