Did Rahul Gandhi get Special Protection Group cover during his 59-day vacation? Government keeps mum

NEW DELHI: The Modi government appears reluctant to say whether Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was protected by the SPG during his 59-day vacation. The Special Protection Group, an elite police force, is tasked with the protection of the PM, former PMs and their family members in India and abroad.

RTI applicant Dev Ashish Bhattacharya had sought to know if Gandhi was protected by the SPG during the 59-day of absence, clarifying that he did not want information regarding his movements or destination. The query to the Cabinet Secretariat was forwarded to the office of the secretary ( security).

The secretary (security) has forwarded the query to the SPG itself. Secretary (security) in the Cabinet secretariat is the administrative head of the SPG and is responsible for closely monitoring the security arrangements of the protectees.

In fact, it is the office that would have to be involved in clearing visa application and travel arrangements if Gandhi were to travel overseas.

In a letter dated May 15, CPIO in the office of secretary (security) Sankha Roy said, "The application is hereby transferred to the CPIO SPG under section 6(3) of the RTI act for sending suitable reply to the applicant under intimation to this office."

SPG itself is an exempted organization under the RTI Act and does not have to respond to queries unless related to a human rights violations or corruption.

Commenting on the attempts to "dodge"his query, Bhattacharya said, "The response so far indicates that either Gandhi did not inform the government before he left the country or that he did not leave the country at all."

Incidentally, sources said that in 2007 Gandhi had requested that SPG cover be taken off when he was abroad.