Indore Police Impose 31 Conditions for Rahul Gandhi Event, Cite Verma Commission

Police in Indore have imposed 31 security conditions on the Congress for Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme scheduled for Saturday at the IDA ground opposite Regional Park, according to the permission document handed to city party president Chintu Choukse. The conditions include a reference to the Justice J.S. Verma Commission report, which probed the security lapses surrounding the 1991 assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur.

The police document states that the commission analysed the role of event organisers and local political activists in detail, and concluded that the organisers' irresponsible attitude was the primary reason for the security breakdown in the Sriperumbudur incident on May 21, 1991.

Coaching centres and hostel operators in Indore have been asked to sign a "Self Certificate for the Safety" if their students attend the programme. The undertaking requires operators to acknowledge that responsibility for any health or safety problem, accident or other untoward incident would rest with the participating students and the operator.

Organisers have been asked to provide detailed information about the expected crowd, including the number of men and women, the districts, tehsils and colleges from which participants will arrive, and how many will travel by buses, private vehicles and trains. Details of vehicles, including registration numbers, drivers' names and mobile numbers, proposed routes, arrival times and parking arrangements have also been sought.

The venue must be divided into sectors accommodating no more than 2,000 people each, with sector in-charges and adequate gangways. A 25-30-foot clear area is to be maintained in front of the stage, and a six-metre-wide emergency corridor must remain unobstructed. Six entry gates and eight exit gates, each at least six metres wide, are mandated, along with 20 door-frame metal detectors and 30-40 hand-held metal detectors. Separate frisking arrangements for women and adequate female security personnel have also been prescribed.

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari said this was the first time the police had mentioned Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in a security conditions document for a party event, calling it a reflection of the ruling BJP's intentions. He noted that Rahul Gandhi's SPG security was withdrawn in 2019 and said his father's assassination was now being cited while granting permission.

State BJP spokesperson Rakesh Singh Yadav denied the allegation, saying the Congress was not providing accurate information to the police and administration about expected attendance. He said the Verma Commission report was cited to ensure foolproof arrangements, adding that otherwise the Congress would blame the government if any untoward incident occurred.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajesh Dandotiya said police officials were holding meetings with organisers about security arrangements, and that the document cites the Verma Commission report as a reference outlining the responsibilities of event organisers.

The programme was originally planned at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium but was shifted to September 19 after permission to use the stadium was not granted. The civic administration cited existing High Court directions on stadium use, while Congress leaders alleged the government was preventing Gandhi from engaging directly with students.