Mrs Vadra has taught us the somersault of convenience: BJP

New Delhi: A day after Congress President Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi wrote to the SPG director asking for withdrawal of special treatment given to her children, Robert Vadra and herself at airports, the Bharatiya Janata Party now hit out at her. The BJP said that she has taught everyone the somersault of convenience.

"Mrs Vadra has taught us what is 'Somersault of Convenience'. She is second only to Mr Kejriwal in teaching this acrobatics," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra tweeted.

This came after Priyanka wrote to the Director of the SPG asking for withdrawal of special treatment given to her kids, her husband Robert Vadra and herself at airports. Priyanka in her letter said that they were given these privileges by the agency itself without asking for them. "I would like to bring to your notice that his (Vadra's) inclusion on that list came about at the insistence of your predecessors in the SPG/Delhi Police and not upon any request by either of us. Ever since then, it has been a source of constant embarrassment for my husband who has asked me on numerous occasions to have it removed," she said.

She also added that her request for removal of security when the family travels together. "Since the government is now reportedly considering the removal of his name, I would like to inform you that I do not feel it will be correct for my children and me to avail of the facility of exemption when we are all traveling together."

Gandhi's letter came after Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju hinted that Robert Vadra may be denied the privilege of not being frisked at airports. The SPG has said that the decision of withdrawal of security will be based on reports from the intelligence agencies.

Meanwhile, the Congress skirted questions about Robert Vadra's continuance in the VIP list on airports owing to his security saying such matters should "not be politicised" and be left to agencies concerned. "The issue of security of people of the country should not be politicised. Congress has nothing to do with either the grant or withdrawal of security to anyone. We have always believed that security is a matter, which should always be left to security agencies. They have to decide to whom and how they have to provide security," party spokesperson Shashi Tharoor said.

Tharoor added there are certain rules for the security of persons in which Congress has no role and the Home Minister of the country reviews it periodically.

The Civil Aviation Minister had on Thursday said that they may re-look into Vadra's security exemptions at airports. "Security should be meaningful and not ornamental. It will depend on whether the Home Ministry feels there is a threat perception, and I am not talking about Vadra, we'll have to see," Pusapati had said.

Vadra currently is in the VIP list and enjoys the privilege of going unchecked at airports. The change of guard at the Centre, however, can change the privileges he used to get as Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law. Earlier too, various passenger bodies had objected to Vadra being exempted from frisking at airports.

The SPG says the final decision on Priyanka's letter will be based on reports from the intelligence agencies.

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