Obama visit: No sniffer dogs at Rajghat this time

Mahatma Gandhi’s great-grandson Tushar cautioned Indian and American authorities on Tuesday against repeating a mistake of 2006 when US security personnel had taken sniffer dogs near the Mahatma’s samadhi at Rajghat ahead of George W Bush’s visit.

“I hope both Indian government and US security agencies are sensitive enough to realise this mistake. I have read that Mani Bhavan [the Gandhi museum in Mumbai] will be closed for two days prior to Obama’s visit. That is also not right,” he told DNA.

The sniffer dog search of March 2006 had created a huge controversy and the matter was raised even in parliament. Tushar had then called it “national shame”.

He said on Tuesday: “Security, I know, has become different today and has changed the way we live. But would they have allowed sniffer dogs at Lincoln Memorial or Washington monuments before our prime ministers’ and presidents’ visits? There should be dignity in bilateral relations. We should not allow ourselves to be treated like a doormat,” Tushar said.

Deputy commissioner of Delhi Police for security UK Chaudhary said he was aware of the 2006 incident. “This time it would not happen like that,” he said.

Obama is arriving in Mumbai on November 6. He will issue a statement from the Taj Mahal Hotel commemorating the Mumbai terrorist attack the same day and later visit the Gandhi museum.