Rajiv Gandhi assassination report cited in security rules for Rahul's Indore event
A police security note for Rahul Gandhi's Indore programme triggered a political row over its Verma Commission reference. Congress called the mention insensitive and political, while police and the BJP said it was meant to tighten event security.
A row broke out on Friday over a police security conditions document issued for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Indore, after it referred to observations in the Verma Commission report set up following former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in 1991.
Police said the report was cited only to explain the responsibility of event organisers in security matters. The Congress, however, accused the ruling BJP of using the reference politically and also raised the issue of Rahul Gandhi's Special Protection Group security having been withdrawn in 2019. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is scheduled to hold the youth outreach programme in Indore on Saturday.
According to the Congress, the police document said the "Verma Commission report has analysed the role of event organisers and local political activists in great depth and detail" and that the "Commission clarified that the organisers' irresponsible attitude was the primary reason for the security breakdown in the Sriperumbudur incident on May 21, 1991."
Former PM Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi's father, was killed in a suicide bombing at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991. The Verma Commission was formed to examine the security lapses that led to the assassination.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari said this was the first time police had referred to Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in a security conditions document for a party event and claimed it showed the BJP government's intent. "First, the government withdrew Rahul Gandhi's SPG security (in 2019), and now his father's assassination is being cited while granting permission for his event," Patwari said. He also alleged that the BJP was misusing its power to obstruct the programme.
Rejecting the charge, state BJP spokesperson Rakesh Singh Yadav said the Congress was not giving accurate information to police and the administration about the expected turnout and other details. "The Verma Commission report has been cited to ensure foolproof arrangements for Rahul Gandhi's event. Otherwise, if any untoward incident happens, the Congress will immediately blame the government," he said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotiya said Rahul Gandhi had Z-plus security and that police officials were in meetings with organisers over the arrangements. "The document cites the Verma Commission report as a reference, which outlines the responsibilities of organisers of such events," he said. According to the Congress, the security conditions require organisers to deploy at least 1,500 volunteers, including a minimum of 500 women, and allow police to restrict entry if attendance crosses the approved capacity.
The conditions also say that no objectionable or provocative pictures, banners, posters or hoardings will be displayed, and that no inflammatory or derogatory remarks will be made against any religion, caste, community, or political or non-political organisation that could hurt religious sentiments. The controversy, however, has centred on the reference to the Verma Commission report in the run-up to Rahul Gandhi's event in Indore.