UP Govt's security objections due to political insecurity: Congress

Congress dismissed UP government's security objections to Rahul Gandhi's surprise visit to the state saying, "it arises out of political insecurity (of Mayawati) due to the impact generated by the mass-contact programmes of Gandhi".

Congress on Thursday dismissed UP government's security objections to Rahul Gandhi's surprise visit to the state saying, "it arises out of political insecurity (of Mayawati) due to the impact generated by the mass-contact programmes of Gandhi".

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"No leader of any political party can be expected to consult or inform the leader of any other political party about their movements, agenda or programme," party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said.

"As far as security is concerned, SPG is informed well in advance about such visits and then it becomes the state government's responsibility to take the other required steps."

In a veiled reference to UP Chief Minister Mayawati, the Congress spokesperson said "the issue is being raised because of the political insecurity of that leader."

Another Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi said, "she (Mayawati) is not worried about the security of Rahul Gandhi but about her own political insecurity".

"Earlier she used to complain that Rahul Gandhi only visits Amethi. Now as Gandhi has started visiting the entire state, her feeling of political insecurity has all the more risen," Chaturvedi said.

Earlier, taking a serious view of Gandhi's surprise visit to eastern districts of the state yesterday, the UP government said it is likely to raise the issue of "security lapse" with the Centre.