Laser, possibly from sniper gun, pointed at Rahul Gandhi's head during Amethi roadshow: Congress

The Congress has alleged a major breach in the security cover of its president Rahul Gandhi during his roadshow in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi yesterday. The Congress has claimed that green laser, possibly from a sniper gun, was aimed at Gandhi seven times intermittently. The Congress has written a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and complained about the breach. “…a laser (green) was pointed at his head, intermittently on at least 7 separate occasions in a short period; including twice at his temple on the right side of the head,” the party said in a letter Singh.

The letter claimed that it was a grave lapse on part of UP Police and the local administration. The letter has also cited the assassinations of Indira and Rajiv Gandhi to highlight its concern. The report said that the letter, which has been signed by senior party leaders Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Singh Surjewala, also talked about political differences. “Bereft of any political differences, security of Shri Rahul Gandhi is the first responsibility of your government and the ministry…Rahul Gandhi being a high risk target is especially vulnerable during the extensive electioneering in the ongoing 2019 elections,” the letter said. 

 

Congress claims green laser, possibly from a sniper gun, was aimed at @RahulGandhi seven times intermittently. @INCIndia#ElectionsWithNewsNation#IndiaElections2019

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— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) April 11, 2019

Gandhi was in Amethi along with his family to filed nominations for the Lok Sabha Elections. Flanked by mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Gandhi filed the nomination after a mega road show in the Congress bastion. Noticeably, Gandhi’s brother-in-law Robert Vadra was also present at the district collectorate. It was a complete show of strength not just politicly but family-wise too. The message was loud and clear - the Gandhis stand united, which includes Vadra also. Before the nomination, Gandhi along with his sister, brother-in-law and their children took part in the mega road show in Congress pocket borough.

Earlier on April 4, the Congress president had filed his nomination from Kerala's Wayanad constituency in presence of his sister. Rahul Gandhi, who has been representing Uttar Pradesh's Amethi since 2004, is fighting the upcoming general elections from two seats. Gandhi said that he decided to contest from the south Indian state as people of the country's southern states feel "hostility from (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi" and he wanted to send a message that he and his party was standing with them.