Rahul violated security protocol in Gujarat: Rajnath Singh

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had violated the security protocol during his visit to Gujarat last week when he was attacked with a stone, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday.

Rajnath Singh told the Lok Sabha that Gujarat Police was informed about Gandhi's visit two days before he travelled to the state.

"Rahul Gandhi is under SPG protection. The state police had made adequate arrangement for the visit. He was even provided a bullet-proof car. But he opted for a non-bullet proof vehicle. He should have listened to the advice of security personnel. But he did not," he said.

The minister said some unknown person threw a stone at Gandhi's car and the incident would not have occurred had the Congress leader used the vehicle the police had provided.

The matter came up in the Lok Sabha after Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue of the "potentially fatal" attack on Gandhi in Gujarat on August 4.

Kharge said the government was saying terrorists were throwing stones in Kashmir and asked "which terrorist threw stones in Gujarat".

Congress members shouted slogans even as the Minister said the accused had been arrested and further probe was on.

The din forced Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to adjourn the House for half hour at 11.30 am.