Priyanka drives brother Rahul in Amethi

AMETHI - Priyanka Gandhi took to the wheel even as elder brother and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi sat next to her after the two landed in his constituency Amethi Friday.

Priyanka and Rahul reached the Fursatganj airport in Sultanpur district at around 11 a.m. After getting out of the airport, she sat in the driver’s seat of the green Toyota Qualis and set out for Amethi to meet Congress functionaries and Women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs).

“She insisted on driving the vehicle and Rahul took the adjacent seat. They reached Angrawaan village of the Gauriganj block at around 12.30 p.m. to attend a meeting of the SHGs,” state Congress spokesperson A.P. Singh told IANS.

They spent about an hour with the women and left for Munshiganj, he said.

However, the media was kept about 4 km away from the VIP cavalcade as there had been a reported security breach earlier this year.

According to sources, the office of the secretary (security) had issued a letter to the state government Oct 27 regarding the security concerns of the family, which is protected by the Special Protection Group.

The letter cited serious incidents of security breach following which the state government beefed up the security for this visit. A reply to the letter was also sent by the state government.

“Strict instructions have been issued to the district magistrates and the superintendents of police of all districts where they (Priyanka and Rahul) will go,” additional director general of police (law and order) A.K. Jain told reporters.

While Rahul will leave for Delhi Friday evening, Priyanka will be participating in other similar programmes Saturday, Singh added.

Amethi is about 200 km from Lucknow.