Sonia, Rahul advised against holding roadshows for poll

In view of intelligence inputs suggesting suicide attacks on VVIPs during political rallies,
the government has advised Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul not to to embark on any roadshow in the run up to Lok Sabha polls.

Both Sonia and Rahul, who is the Congress general secretary, attract crowd and their frequent unscheduled stops and efforts to mingle with the supporters, have been
considered as high security risk by security agencies, particularly the elite Special Protection Group, official sources said.

SPG, which is responsible for protection of the prime minister and the Gandhi family, has long been uncomfortable with the roadshows of the mother-son duo and it was conveyed by SPG director BV Wanchoo to Union Home minister P Chidambaram.

Intelligence reports have also suggested vulnerability of other top political leaders during roadshows and advised against going ahead with such campaigning during the polls.       Following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, the security agencies have been trying to avoid taking any risk in security of big leaders.

In November 2007, three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police and during interrogations, they confessed that they had planned to garland Rahul with hand grenades and hold him hostage to negotiate release of nearly 40 captured terrorists.