AMETHI/LUCKNOW (TIP): Priyanka Gandhi, while campaigning for her brother Rahul Gandhi in Amethi on May 1, broke away from her SPG cordon and decided to walk towards Tiloi area of the district. The Congress’s star campaigner veered off from her security cover when she reached Gandhinagar near Gauriganj.

She stepped down from her SUV, stopped SPG personnel from following her, and left for Tiloi on foot. Confirming the report, Superintendent of Police Hiralal, Amethi, said that Uttar Pradesh Police personnel accompanied her. Priyanka was to address a meeting at Shahmau near Kasimpur but she changed her route. Congress workers said Priyanka was apparently upset with the attitude of SPG personnel towards her interaction with people.

On April 12, an SPG personnel had reportedly beaten up a local Congress leader Dharmendra Shukla when he tried to reach out to Rahul who had come for filing his nomination papers for the election. The incident was used by the Opposition parties to attack the Gandhi family. Later, principal secretary, home, Anil Kumar Gupta, wrote to the SPG director that Priyanka had flouted the rule book by breaking the security cordons and mingling with the crowds during election rallies.

The official mentioned the security threats from various terrorist groups to VIPs. Priyanka Gandhi has been camping in Amethi and Rae Bareli for the last fortnight overseeing the election campaign of her brother Rahul and mother Sonia. In Tiloi, she told a gathering, “The affection that exists between you and the family is unique which either you can understand or we can. Others can’t.

You know better than me who wants to work for you with an honest heart and who comes with self-interest,” she added. She asked people to vote for the party which protects Indian culture and ethos, represents all communities. “I have full faith that you will elect the right person,” she said.