NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday accused the BJP government of personal vendetta and endangering the life of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after their SPG cover was removed.

Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi will now get 'Z+' security by the CRPF on an all-India basis, as per government sources. The decision was taken after a detailed security assessment, a senior official said.

The SPG cover for Rahul Gandhi was withdrawn and the CRPF took over the security at his residence 12, Tughlaq Lane. The CRPF had also reached Sonia Gandhi's residence at 10, Janpath, and was working out modalities for replacing SPG.

Former PM Manmohan Singh and some other senior Congress leaders have written to cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba, expressing concern over the withdrawal of SPG cover for the Gandhi family.
Several leaders from the Congress and other parties reacted sharply, following withdrawal of Gandhi family's SPG cover.

While Congress leaders condemned the move pointing out how Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were assassinated, others argued that Rahul and Priyanka did not always use their SPG security.
Ashok Gehlot, chief minister of Rajasthan and a senior Congress leader said in a tweet that the security cover given to leaders should not be politicised.

The security cover given to leaders is to save their lives & this shd not be politicized. If the decision has been… https://t.co/OSjYcR1goz— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) 1573213532000

Congress leader Ahmed Patel in a tweet called the move a "personal vendetta mechanism".

The BJP has descended to the ultimate personal vendetta mechanism, compromising the lives of family members of 2 Fo… https://t.co/qC31LX8j93— Ahmed Patel (@ahmedpatel) 1573208941000

Congress working committee member Jitin Prasada called it a "sinister" move.
"Withdrawing the SPG security cover of a family that has lost its family members in the line of duty to brutal political assassinations reveals the sinister vendetta politics of this government," Prasada said.
Jaiveer Shergill, national spokesperson, questioned the move saying that a month back BJP wanted to extend the SPG cover to Rahul Gandhi even on his trips abroad but have now withdrawn it.

Last month #BJP Govt wanted to extend #SPG cover to Sh Rahul Gandhi travelling abroad also & now they have withdraw… https://t.co/yFwBOKdFIt— Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) 1573210607000

Srinivas BV, national president of Indian Youth Congress called the Centre's move a "cheap and dirty trick".

It is a downright cheap & dirty trick by the Modi govt to remove SPG security for Smt Sonia ji @RahulGandhi ji and… https://t.co/eUvmKD1lta— Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) 1573209407000

Demanding to restore Gandhis' SPG cover, Rajeev Satav, former Congress MP, said that the withdrawal is a "political vendetta".

BJP Govt decision to withdraw the SPG protection of Smt.Sonia Gandhi Ji,Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji & Smt.Priyanka Gandhi… https://t.co/FRiKDAtwiM— Rajeev Satav (@SATAVRAJEEV) 1573208067000

Other than Congress leaders and spokespersons, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national executive member Preeti Menon too took to Twitter to condemn Centre's move.

I am no fan of @INCIndia or the Gandhis. But removing SPG protection to a family where 2 members were brutally assa… https://t.co/PBtDTKF5Gb— Preeti Sharma Menon (@PreetiSMenon) 1573207762000

The Gandhis will be without SPG protection after 28 years. They were included in the VVIP security list following an amendment in September 1991 in the SPG Act of 1988.