Fresh intelligence inputs that Pakistan-based militant groups were planning to carry out a suicide attack on Congress President Sonia Gandhi will have a major impact on the style of campaigning by the Congress leader in the coming assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttaranchal. Sources said the security agencies would advise the Congress chief against road shows and mingling with the public during election campaigns. During the last Lok Sabha elections, Ms Gandhi had toured extensively in various parts of the country and mingled with people en route, giving a tough time to security personnel.The fresh intelligence inputs have led to a review of UPA ChairpersonÂ’s security at the highest level. An advisory issued by intelligence agencies suggested that the terrorist groups had earmarked Sajjad, a Pakistani national heading the anti-India operations of the United Jehad Council, for masterminding the attack on Ms Gandhi. Already, all states, especially the election-bound states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal have been alerted and asked to remain vigilant and strengthen security arrangements well in advance.
The Delhi police has already decided to stop traffic whenever Ms GandhiÂ’s motorcade is on the move, sources in the Home Ministry said. Ms Gandhi, who is protected by the elite Special Protection Group, has been on the hit list of several terrorist groups, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and fringe groups of the Al-Qaida, for quite sometime now.