Congress alleges laser was pointed at Rahul Gandhi’s head in Amethi

India वोट Kar | April 11, 2019

Laser Pointed at Rahul Gandhi's Head During Amethi Rally: Congress

The Congress alleged a breach in Rahul Gandhi’s security, claiming that a green laser, possibly from a sniper’s weapon, was repeatedly aimed at the party president’s head during his visit to Amethi on Wednesday, 10 April, when he filed his Lok Sabha nomination.

The Congress letter

In a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh the same day, senior leaders Ahmed Patel, Jairam Ramesh and Randeep Singh Surjewala wrote that the laser was seen on Rahul Gandhi’s head on at least 7 separate occasions within a short time, twice at his right temple. They attached a video in which green dots appear on his head while he speaks to reporters.

The letter said that people including former security personnel who examined the clip had concluded that the light could have come from a possible weapon, such as a sniper gun. Seeking an inquiry, the leaders said this was cause for serious alarm, recalling that the assassinations of Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother and father remain fresh in public memory. They also blamed the Uttar Pradesh administration, which is responsible for his outer security cordon, for a lapse, and noted that the Congress president was a high-risk candidate during the elections.

The Home Ministry’s response

The Ministry of Home Affairs said it had not yet received any letter about the alleged breach. After reports of a green light being pointed at him came to its attention, it asked the Director of the Special Protection Group (SPG) to verify the facts.

According to the ministry, the SPG Director reported that the video had been examined closely and the green light came from a mobile phone used by an AICC photographer who was filming Rahul Gandhi’s informal interaction with the media near the collectorate in Amethi. The SPG Director said this had been conveyed to Rahul Gandhi’s personal staff and confirmed there were no security implications.

Originally published on 11 April 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.