Shah to move SPG Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha; Congress may raise Priyanka breach

On Tuesday, the Rajya Sabha was due to take up the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019, to be moved by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Bill, which amends the Special Protection Group Act, 1988, was cleared by the Lok Sabha by voice vote on 27 November.

What the SPG Bill changes

According to a Home Ministry statement, family members of a former Prime Minister who live at that person’s allotted residence will receive SPG protection for only five years after he or she leaves office. During the Lok Sabha debate, Shah rejected Congress charges of “political vendetta” over changes to the security of Congress leaders Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and said earlier amendments to the law had been made with one family in mind. He said their protection had been revised after an annual professional review of the threat they faced, within the framework of the Act.

The Congress was expected to raise a security breach at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s residence, weeks after her SPG cover was removed. Her office said on Monday that a car carrying five people had entered her home and that the group had walked up to her and taken photographs. Priyanka, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi were SPG protectees until 4 November and now have Z-plus security.

Other business in Parliament

• Shah was also to seek passage of a 2019 Bill to merge the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
• Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was to table a Bill in the Rajya Sabha recognising the property rights of residents of Delhi’s unauthorised colonies, including those holding property through power of attorney, agreement to sale, a will or a possession letter.
• The Lok Sabha was to discuss the Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019, which sets standards for ship recycling and a mechanism to enforce them, as well as crop losses and their effect on farmers.
• Question Hour topics included Cyclone Fani, MGNREGA, the PM Kisan scheme, PMAY, PMGSY and RIDF. Members were also expected to raise the geographical boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir and of Ladakh as Union Territories, and the question of tribal area status for Ladakh.

See also: Congress

Originally published on 3 December 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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