Opp vs BJP: Political slugfest over ‘lapses’ in Rahul Gandhi’s security during BJY

Congress claims, ‘security arrangements completely collapsed’; petty, cheap politics of Cong, alleges BJP; J&K govt denies security breach

Jammu: The alleged lapses in the security of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s during the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra (BJY) has caused a massive political storm across the nation, with the BJP and the opposition parties trading barbs over the issue.
While the Congress party accused the Centre of compromising the security of Rahul Gandhi, the BJP rejected as “baseless” allegation of the Congress leaders that security arrangements “completely collapsed” during the Yatra in Kashmir, saying it was part of the “petty and cheap” politics of the Congress.
Blaming the Centre for not providing appropriate security for the yatra, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Lapse in Rahul Gandhi’s security detail in Jammu and Kashmir during BJY is disconcerting to say the least. It is the Government of India’s prime responsibility to provide security. India has already lost two Prime Minister's and scores of leaders and we demand better security for the Yatris.”
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot demanded that the central government should order an inquiry into the alleged lapse in the security of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
“The lapse in the security of Rahul Gandhi in Jammu and Kashmir is a serious matter. The government and administration of Jammu and Kashmir should make concrete arrangements in this regard. We have already lost Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. The home minister should immediately get an inquiry conducted into the matter to ascertain the reason behind the lapse and at what level it occurred,” said Gehlot.
Jumping into the controversy, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who joined the Yatra at Banihal, tweeted; “I’m witness to this. The outer ring of the cordon, which was maintained by the J&K police, simply vanished within minutes of @RahulGandhi starting to walk. We had just crossed into Kashmir from Jammu & were looking forward to the 11 KM walk but unfortunately it had to be cancelled”.
The BJP, however, dismissed the “baseless” allegation of Rahul Gandhi, saying it was part of the “petty and cheap” politics of the Congress. “It has become a habit of Rahul Gandhi to level baseless allegations”, BJP spokesperson in Delhi Gaurav Bhatia said.
“The allegations of Gandhi and his party make it clear that they are meant to keep the yatra in the news as there was no shortcoming in the security”, he told reporters.
In Jammu, the BJP’s J&K unit president Ravinder Raina termed the Rahul Gandhi's security lapse allegations as a “mere propaganda” and alleged the Congress party have always spewed venom against the country.
“As Rahul Gandhi's Yatra enters Kashmir, the strict security arrangements have been made by the security grid but still he is misleading people with his false statements. In fact, when the people of Kashmir distanced themselves from his (Gandhi's) Yatra, he made the statement of security disorder an excuse,” Raina alleged.
Pertinently, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi cancelled his walk as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra for the day after it entered Kashmir Valley, with the party alleging a security lapse and claiming that police arrangements by the Union territory administration “completely collapsed”.
Gandhi, who began his yatra from Banihal in Jammu region, crossed the Jawahar tunnel into the Valley in Qazigund in a bulletproof vehicle but could walk for barely 500 metres after that. He was asked by his security team to stop given the absence of police personnel to manage the large crowd that had gathered to receive him.
“Police personnel who were supposed to manage the crowd were nowhere to be seen,” the former Congress president told reporters here in a brief statement.
Gandhi will resume his journey on Saturday from Awantipora, 33 km from Srinagar.
J&K Govt rejects Cong’s claims over security breach
Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday dismissed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim of alleged security lapses during Bharat Jodo Yatra in the Union Territory, stating that the size of the crowd was larger than planned which created the impression that security arrangements were not in place.
However, 15 companies of paramilitary forces and 10 companies of Jammu and Kashmir Police were deployed for the security of Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing a press conference, RK Goyal, Additional Chief Secretary (FC), Home Department of Jammu and Kashmir said the government was acutely mindful of the security concerns and all arrangements have been made to ensure the best possible security for the ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra.
“The size of the crowd was larger than planned which led to the pressure on the available security resources and created the impression that security arrangements were not in place. However, 15 companies of paramilitary forces and 10 companies of J-K police were deployed,” said Goyal.
He further said a large portion of the crowd from the Banihal side who were supposed to have returned to Banihal rushed to the Kashmir side
“Contrary to arrangements worked out between Bharat Jodo yatra organizers and the security establishment, a large portion of the crowd from the Banihal side who were supposed to have returned to Banihal rushed to the Kashmir side,” he added.

Updated On 1/28/2023 12:48:14 AM