Priyanka Gandhi Vadra writes to SPG director seeking removal of airport privileges

Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi on Friday wrote a letter to the Director of Special Protection Group (SPG), asking for withdrawal of special airport exemptions provided to her and family.

42-year-old Priyanka and her husband, Robert Vadra, are currently on a list of VIPs which permits them skip security checks at airports within India.

However, the SPG sources said they will consult intelligence agencies over removing privileges to Priyanka and Robert Vadra at airports.

The development came hours after the newly appointed Civil Aviation Minister Gajapati Raju in Narendra Modi’s Cabinet dropped hints towards stripping Robert of his frisking immunity in airports.

On being asked whether Vadra would continue to be in the VIP list and not be checked at airports, Raju said, “Security should be meaningful and not ornamental. It will depend if the Home Ministry feels there is a threat perception, and I am not talking about Vadra, we’ll have to see.”