The Home Ministry on Monday dismissed Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s statement that a former Special Protection Group (SPG) chief had to quit because he refused to accept a list of officers handpicked by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as “baseless” and “devoid of fact”.
The Home Ministry also stated that the force is a professional organisation which guards the serving prime minister, former prime ministers, and their families.
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“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, at an interaction with academicians at the Siri Fort Auditorium on Saturday, had alleged that educational institutions, the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India, among others are “systematically being captured” by the RSS.
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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.
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 in 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.
Rahul Gandhi, his mother and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka are among the SPG protectees.
(With PTI inputs)
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Home Ministry dismisses Rahul Gandhi's comment on SPG as 'baseless', 'devoid of fact'
Rahul Gandhi had alleged that educational institutions, Supreme Court, ECI are “systematically being captured†by RSS (Photo: PTI)
The Home Ministry on Monday dismissed Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s statement that a former Special Protection Group (SPG) chief had to quit because he refused to accept a list of officers handpicked by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as “baseless” and “devoid of fact”.
The Home Ministry also stated that the force is a professional organisation which guards the serving prime minister, former prime ministers, and their families.
Read More | Indian Navy Commander Abhilash Tomy rescued by French vessel after Golden Globe Race injury
“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, at an interaction with academicians at the Siri Fort Auditorium on Saturday, had alleged that educational institutions, the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India, among others are “systematically being captured” by the RSS.
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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.
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 in 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.
Rahul Gandhi, his mother and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka are among the SPG protectees.
(With PTI inputs)