Rahul Gandhi cancels visit to Puducherry after death threat letter, calls in sick
New Delhi: A day after Puducherry Congress received a letter with threat to party vice President Rahul Gandhi’s life, the latter called in sick and cancelled his trip to the poll-bound region.
Rahul was scheduled to address a rally of the Congress-DMK alliance today at Karaikal in Puducherry. An anonymous letter threatening to kill Rahul Gandhi at an election meeting in Puducherry was received by a senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy.
Narayanasamy, an AICC General Secretary and a former Union Minister, said over phone that he had received an 'unsigned letter' at his Puducherry residence on May 5, threatening him and Rahul Gandhi. He said the letter written in Tamil stated that "your party is responsible for closure of industries in Puducherry. We will attack you and your former Prime Minister's son and be blasted while attending a meeting."
Narayanasamy said he had filed a complaint with police and had also informed the party high command.
Read: Congress in huddle as Rahul Gandhi receives death threat
In a series of tweets late on Monday night, Rahul Gandhi said that he is down with high fever and thus, would be unable to visit Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala as per schedule.
Unfortunately I have been down with high fever since Sunday and the Doctor has advised rest for the next two days(1/3)
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) May 9, 2016
My apologies to the ppl of Puducherry, Tamil Nadu & Kerala for missing this opportunity of being with them on 10th &11th May as planned(2/3)
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) May 9, 2016
Shall keep everyone updated about the rescheduled visits(3/3)
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) May 9, 2016
On Monday, the Congress leadership met Home Minister Rajnath Singh, following which the government cleared additional security for Gandhi. Singh issued "extra caution" for both the Intelligence Bureau and the elite force that guards politicians considered to be at high risk.
Read: Centre asks SPG, IB to take maximum precautions on Rahul’s security
The Home Minister decided that Gandhi will get more commandos from the SPG or the Special Protection Group, which handles the security of top leaders including the Prime Minister.
The Special Protection Group (SPG) guards the Prime Minister, the former prime ministers and their immediate family. Sonia Gandhi and her two children--Rahul and Priyanka --are SPG protectees.
Rahul's father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated during a suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur near Chennai in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991 shortly before he was to address a Lok Sabha poll rally.
