The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a clarification negating Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s claim that Vivek Srivastava was removed as the head of the Special Protection Group (SPG) because he refused to comply with the instructions of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
The matter has been verified. The officer in question, Vivek Srivastava, former Director, Special Protection Group (SPG), has specifically averred that he did not have any such conversation with Rahul Gandhi at any point of time. The officer has stated that as part of his professional duties he interacted with SPG protectees; however, he has categorically stated that during his interaction with Gandhi, there was no talk whatsoever regarding the appointment of a new Director, or the reasons for his leaving SPG.
SPG is a professional organisation which takes its task of protecting serving Prime Ministers, former Prime Ministers and their families entrusted to its security, very seriously and in the highest professional spirit. The comment reportedly made by Gandhi through the media is baseless, devoid of fact and unfortunate, coming from an SPG protectee.
