Rajya Sabha passes bill to amend SPG Act, Amit Shah rejects charge of political vendetta, Congress stages walkout

NEW DELHI: Parliament has amended the SPG law to limit the elite force’s protection only for the Prime Minister of India. The Rajya Sabha passed the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill on Tuesday despite opposition from Congress against the amendment that removed SPG cover to family members of former PMs. Congress staged a walkout before the bill was passed.

The Lok Sabha had cleared the bill last week. The Centre had withdrawn SPG cover for Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul and Priyanka even before the winter session had begun and downgraded their security to Z+, based on the routine examination of security threat.

Congress MPs raised the issue of breach of security at Priyanka Gandhi’s residence on November 25, when the bill was taken up in the Upper House on Tuesday. Narrating the incident, home minister Amit Shah in his reply said that the intruders included Congress worker Sharda Tyagi and his 3 colleagues from Meerut.


They arrived at Priyanka’s residence in a black Tata Safari, similar to the vehicle Rahul Gandhi used. Security guards who had received intimation of Rahul’s arrival mistook Tyagi’s vehicle for his and let it pass without checking, presuming Rahul was inside. Shah said three police personnel on duty at Priyanka’s residence were subsequently suspended and an inquiry ordered.