Congress accused the Narendra Modi government of carrying out "political espionage" on Gandhi and demanded a "comprehensive explanation from no less than the Home Minsiter and the Prime Minister" while rejecting the police claim that the episode as merely a security issue.
Congress on Saturday created a major furore over Delhi Police officials visiting Rahul Gandhi's residence and making queries about him even as the police chief rejected allegations of snooping, saying it was a routine exercise of being in touch with dignitaries.
Congress accused the Narendra Modi government of carrying out "political espionage" on Gandhi and demanded a "comprehensive explanation from no less than the Home Minsiter and the Prime Minister" while rejecting the police claim that the episode as merely a security issue.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said Delhi police officials, who visited the party Vice President's residence, had made "unwarranted and weird" enquiries about him.
Asserting that no law permits such a procedure, he said the issue of "snooping and surveillance" on Gandhi would be raised in Parliament.
"Through you, we have raised it nationally. It is wider. We will raise it in all fora," he told reporters.
Gandhi is on a sabbatical since the start of the Budget session of Parliament on February 23. Some police officials went to his residence on March 12 and reportedly asked how he looks like and what is the colour of his eyes etc.
"This kind of political espionage, snooping and surveillance, this kind of intrusion in politcial opponents' life--this may be Gujarat model. It is not India's model.
The track record shows it is a model perfected in Gujarat especially for political opponents, judges, journalists and private persons.
"We are charging the government, condemning it and strongly deprecating this kind of conduct. It is not only specific to Congress and Rahul Gandhi but in general against all political opponents," Singhvi said.
Confirming that some police personnel visited Gandhi's residence, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi rejected the allegation of snooping and said such visits are a routine practice of being in touch with the dignitaries and there was no malafide in it.
"Rahul Gandhi was not targeted by the police. It was a routine activity which is done to keep records of vulnerable personalities. Police also visited houses of Veerappa Moily, L K Advani, K Chandrasekhar Rao among others. There was no malafide intension behind seeking details about Gandhi," he said.
Bassi said police was never asked either by Prime Minister Office or Home Ministry to visit Rahul's residence and asserted that there was no political pressure on police.
The police chief said such surveys are conducted at the offices of all protected persons from time to time for prevention and detection of crime and maintaining of law and order.
"Two cops went to Rahul Gandhi's residence. Our beat officer Rameshwar Dayal went to his house on March 12 and sought details about him. As beat officers are not able to directly meet such persons, they contact their office staff and leave performa pertaining to required details," he said.
According to Bassi, on the same day, Dayal went to the houses of MP Krishan Pal Gujjar, Naresh Agarwal, M Veerappa Moily and Telengana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
Bassi also said that it was important for the police to update information about the people who are more vulnerable to the Centre.
“We keep information about Amit Shah ji, Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi ji etc. as well. There is no motive of snooping nor was directed by the government,” he added.
Taking exception to the Congress party’s outrage over the alleged snooping on party vice president Rahul Gandhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday said the former must refrain from politicizing every ‘technical’ issue.
“We are aware of the fact that Congress today has no other issue to politicise or discuss, so naturally they are trying to politicise it but a serious advice to them would be, please don’t politicize technical issue,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI.
“Everything should not be seen through a political prism. Rahul Gandhi is a SPG protectee and if the protectee is being visited by the ones who give the cover protection, so this should be seen as a technical thing and not as a political thing,” he added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}