Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was away from India on six occasions for 72 days without taking any SPG security along, posing grave threat tohimself, Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha today. He was responding to allegations by Congress members that Gandhi could have been killed in Gujarat where stones were pelted on his car last week.


Responding to the issue raised by Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Singh said the nation as well as the House want to know what Rahul wants to hide by not taking SPG protection along, when he left India on six occasions totalling 72 days.

The Home Minister told the House, "It is worth mentioning that in the past, there have been many instances of Shri Rahul Gandhi ignoring the security advice. In his earlier visit to  Gujarat on July 21, Shri Gandhi preferred to use a non-BR car in disregard of advice given by SPG to use a BR Car.

"Shri Rahul Gandhi undertook 121 tours in the last 2 years, out of which there were 100 security protocol violations of not using BR Car.

"In the last 2 years, Shri Gandhi has been out on six foreign visits for 72 days. He has not kept the SPG cover with himself in these 72 days. We want to know why didnt Shri Rahul Gandhi take SPG cover on several foreign trips? What is he trying to hide? 

"A SPG protectee gets security cover under an Act of Parliament reflecting the will and wisdom of  Parliament for providing security. Going abroad without taking SPG cover is not only a violation of the SPG Act, but also a negligence towards ones own security."

He said one person has been arrested during the course of investigation, who is now in judicial custody. The Gujarat CM has also appointed an officer of the ADG rank to inquire into all the aspects of the Dhanera incident.

Earlier, Kharge alleged that if one of the stones had hit their leader, he could have been killed.