Politics

Home Ministry denies Rahul Gandhi’s allegations on removal of SPG chief, calls it ‘baseless’

Rajnath Singh

New Delhi | The Home Ministry on Monday dismissed as “baseless” and “devoid of fact” Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s statement that a former SPG chief had to quit because he refused to accept a list of officers handpicked by the RSS.

It also said the force is a professional organisation which guards the serving prime minister, former prime ministers and their families.

“The comment reportedly made by Gandhi through the media is baseless, devoid of fact and unfortunate, coming from an SPG protectee,” the ministry said in a statement. Rahul Gandhi, his mother and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka are among the Special Protection Group’s protectees.

The SPG is a professional organisation that takes its task of protecting serving prime ministers, former prime ministers and their families entrusted to its security very seriously, and in the highest professional spirit, the ministry said.

Rahul Gandhi, at an interaction with academicians Saturday, had alleged that educational institutions, the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India and others are “systematically being captured” by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Citing an example, the Congress chief had alleged, “When Mr (Narendra) Modi came to power, a person from Gujarat was chosen to head the SPG. In a short time, he left the position. He told me that he refused a list of SPG officers handpicked by the RSS, and that is why he was sent home.”

The Home Ministry said the matter has been verified and the officer in question, Vivek Srivastava, former SPG director, has specifically averred that he did not have any such conversation with Rahul Gandhi at any point of time.

“The officer has stated that as part of his professional duties he interacted with SPG protectees. However, he has categorically stated that during his interaction with (Rahul) Gandhi, there was no talk whatsoever regarding the appointment of a new director, or the reasons for his leaving the SPG,” the statement said.

Dear Readers,
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
Some error occurred

Related posts

National

“No Singham In Mumbai Police”: Special Police Commissioner

Shashank
Mumbai

 

Newly appointed special commissioner of police, Mumbai, by the state government on Wednesday,IPS officer Deven Bharti said on Twitter: “Mumbai Police is a Team. Singhams don’t exist. @MumbaiPolice

Singham is a cop-based film franchise directed by Rohit Shetty and stars Ajay Devgan. The film portrays the cop as a larger-than-life inspector.

It is for the first time in the history of Mumbai police that such a position has been created. Bharti is known to enjoy the confidence of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

It was during the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA regime that an FIR was registered against him along with two others on charges of not registering an FIR against BJP leader Hyder Azam’s wife when it was alleged that fake documents were used to procure her passport.

Related posts

News Hub