The Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Umang Singhar, has criticized the state administration and the Bharatiya Janata Party amid security concerns for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ event in Indore.
Speaking on September 19, Singhar accused the administration of deliberate mismanagement, stating, “Here, the administration is repeatedly misleading. Routes are being changed… It is the fault of the BJP and the administration, and their intentions are bad. They themselves are making mistakes in security. Santosh Singh (Indore’s Police Commissioner) will be held accountable for this.”
The controversy arose after Indore Police requested detailed information on 29 points from the Congress party as part of the security and logistical preparations for the event scheduled at Regional Park under Rajendra Nagar police station jurisdiction. The police referenced security protocols established by the Justice JS Verma Commission report.
The Justice Verma Commission was established in 1991 following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to analyze security lapses and recommend measures. Its guidelines continue to influence VIP security arrangements.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone 1, Narendra Singh Rawat, confirmed the 29-point checklist was sent to Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari and Rahul Gandhi’s Advanced Security Liaison team. He said, “We have given a 29-point letter to the ASL team and Jitu Patwari. Since Rahul Gandhi ji has Z-plus security, we have mentioned the standards applicable to him and the general standards followed for VIP security.”
The list covers physical arrangements at the venue, such as designated zones, barricades, stage specifications, electricity and water supply, medical facilities, and other safety measures. It also includes requests for information on the expected attendance, including gender ratios and transportation modes, to aid security and parking organization.
Rawat further noted the police sought a volunteer list proportional to the anticipated crowd to ensure women’s safety and manage traffic without disruption to the public.
Regarding Gandhi’s route to the venue, the official explained, “Since Rahul Gandhi ji has Z-plus security, the route should be sanitized, which means it should be a safe route and should undergo all necessary security checks. We also have to ensure that the movement of the crowd towards the venue does not merge with the route, otherwise it can lead to traffic congestion and inconvenience to the general public.”
He clarified the reference to the Verma Commission report was not a recent creation, saying, “It is an old report. It lists certain points for the police, administration and others about what needs to be taken care of during VIP security and such arrangements. We have referred to those standards while preparing these 29 points. We have not generated anything on our own.”
A meeting involving Rahul Gandhi’s security team, Congress representatives, volunteers, Advanced Security Liaison officials, and police officers was held on September 18, at which the party agreed to provide the required data and certifications related to safety. Rawat stated, “They will give us the details of the expected crowd, the volunteer list and certificates related to electricity safety and other arrangements. Once these are submitted, we will issue the NOC. As of now, we have not received the required information.”
A final meeting was scheduled for the evening of September 19, with police expressing hope that the Congress party would submit the necessary information, after which the no-objection certificate for the event would be granted.
When asked if permission could be withheld if standards were unmet, Rawat emphasized, “The safety and security of a Z-plus protected guest remained the police’s utmost priority. If any of the prescribed standards are not fulfilled, we will fix the responsibility on the organisers. If the organizers wish to proceed with the event on their own terms. Until all the standards are fulfilled, we will not grant clearance.”
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera condemned the Madhya Pradesh Police for purported intimidation tactics related to the event’s security. He stated, “First, an attempt was made to intimidate Shri Rahul Gandhi ji by referencing the tragic assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi ji, ahead of the Goonj program for students in Indore. Now, coaching center operators are being threatened—they are being forced to sign statements saying that the responsibility for the safety of students attending the program will be theirs. This is not security; it is a complete chain of intimidation: first threaten Rahul Gandhi ji, then the organisers, and now the coaching centers and students—and call it security.”
In a post on
Congress leader Digvijay Singh highlighted the event’s expected scale, saying, “This is almost the 5th program of Rahul Gandhi ji’s ‘Chhatron ki Goonj,’ and this time he has chosen Indore. Indore is a major center of education, and nearly one and a half lakh students have already registered themselves here, so we are fully confident that this will be a successful program.”