Indore, Sep 18 (PTI) Organisers share joint responsibility with police for crowd control and entry-exit points at the venue, Madhya Pradesh police said on Friday, citing the Verma Commission report on Rajiv Gandhi’s 1991 assassination as part of a security directive for Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ event here.
This led to a major political row ahead of the Congress leader’s meeting with students on Saturday, with the opposition party accusing the ruling BJP of trying to create obstacles for Gandhi’s youth outreach programme in the city.
According to the Congress, the police’s security conditions document stated that the “Verma Commission report has analysed the role of event organisers and local political activists in great depth and detail” and 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 prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul’s father, was assassinated in a suicide bombing at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on May 21, 1991. The Verma Commission’s mandate was to probe the security lapses that led to the assassination.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari claimed that this was the first time the police had mentioned Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in security conditions document for a party event, and it revealed the ruling BJP’s intentions.
“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.
The BJP was abusing its power to obstruct the event, he alleged.
State BJP spokesperson Rakesh Singh Yadav denied the allegation and claimed that the Congress was not providing accurate information to the police and administration regarding the number of people expected to attend the event 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 that Rahul Gandhi enjoys Z-plus security, and police officials were holding meetings with the organisers about security 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 police security conditions require that the organisers must deploy a minimum of 1,500 volunteers, including at least 500 women, and the police will have the right to restrict entry if the gathering exceeds the approved capacity.
The conditions also state that no objectionable or provocative pictures, banners, posters, or hoardings will be displayed and no inflammatory or derogatory remarks will be made against any religion, caste, community, or political or non-political organisation that could hurt anyone’s religious sentiments, the party said. PTI HWP MAS SKL KRK
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