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Rahul security row: Centre raps UP govt The war of words between the Centre and the UP government over the issue of alleged security lapse during AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s Kanpur visit has intensified. The Union Home Ministry has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to explain the alleged slackness in the security of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Kanpur on Friday last. In a letter to Uttar Pradesh Police, the Home Ministry has asked them to give a detailed report as to how Rahul, who enjoys highest category security cover, was allowed to proceed to a university function without a pilot and an escort vehicle. The Home Ministry has asked UP Government what action had been taken against those responsible for the goof-up in the security of Rahul Gandhi. Minister of State for Home, Sri Prakash Jaiswal, who helped organise Rahul Gandhi’s visit has now sought a clarificaion from the Uttar Pradesh government saying there was a deliberate security lapse. “We have sought a report on the security lapse during Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Kanpur. The UP police will investigate the matter. The Home Ministry will exercise caution to ensure that such incidents don’t recur,” said Jaiswal. And in response to the Centre’s allegations, the UP government reacted saying it had no role to play in the entire incident. Clearly, reading off a pre-written script, UP Cabinet Secretary said that they weren’t any slip-ups on the Uttar Pradesh government’s part. Cabinet Secretary, UP, Shashank Shekhar Singh said, “The Home Ministry had sought an explanation into the security lapse during Rahul’s Kanpur visit. The DGP ordered an inquiry, following the orders, the report of which reveals there weren’t any slip-ups. The state govt had no role in this entire episode. If any, it would have been the organiser’s fault.” UP Police to probe security lapses during Rahul’s visit Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Police has ordered a probe into the alleged security lapses during Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Chandrashekhar Azad Agriculture University in Kanpur. Director General of Police Vikram Singh, who was in Kanpur for a law and order assessment meeting, told reporters, “Inquiry into the lapses during Rahul’s visit on October 24 has been given to Additional Director General (ADG) security.” The probe report will soon be submitted to the police headquarters and based on it further action will be taken, he added. The Union Home Secretary and Director IB had talked to the DGP over phone on the issue and Congress leaders had pointed to Rahul’s convoy lacking security arrangements. Asked about the probe into deaths of two alleged Bajrang Dal activists on Janmashtami in August, Singh said two brothers Subodh and Sunil of Shastri Nagar area were put throught Narco tests but no evidence has come out so far. He, however, said the probe into the case is still on. Singh also said that police have found no connection with recently arrested ‘Sadhvi’ Pragya Thakur Singh with Kanpur. She has been arrested in connection with the Malegaon blast. Rahul, a protectee of elite Special Protection Group, was without a pilot or an escort car for a short while when he was in the city to attend a function of Chandrashekar Azad University. His carcade was left without the mandatory escort and pilot cars and also the jammer, used to block any signal in case of a cell phone-triggered explosive device, was missing from the carcade. This is an important part of the VIP carcade especially of those who are SPG protectees. Rahul is on hit list of militant groups especially Jaish-e-Mohammed as was told by Mohammed bid, Yusuf and Mirza Rashid, arrested in Lucknow in November 2007 by personnel of the central security agencies. (With inputs from Agencies) ( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)