Mumbai: In a completely unusual move, mediapersons were not allowed to enter the court where former Congress president Rahul Gandhi appeared in a defamation suit case, citing ‘security’ issues. The media was asked to stand on the street outside the court premises, which was already blocked by hundreds of Congress workers, who had gathered there in support of their beloved leader. Mediapersons were left standing in the rain, being treated as a security threat by the Special Protection Group (SPG), instead of being given a separate spot to stand on the court premises for reportage, which is the usual practice.
Surprisingly, several Congress leaders and workers were given ‘passes’ by the SPG, so that they could enter the courtroom. The SPG oversees the security of Gandhi and other top politicians. When the media asked the local police if any specific orders had been passed by a court, prohibiting the media from entering its premises, there was no plausible answer or explanation.
