Lucknow:
Close to a hundred policemen and a vehicle armed against riots escorted Rahul Gandhi in Lucknow today. Gandhi's security during his trips to UP has been a point of friction between the UP government and the Centre.
Last week, the Prime Minister's office wrote to Mayawati's government asking for details on an alleged breach of security earlier this month, when Gandhi visited Allahabad.
Youth workers of the Samajwadi Party tried to climb onto Gandhi's car and members of his Special Protection Group (SPG) were forced to push back some demonstrators.
Gandhi is in Lucknow for the conclusion of a giant meeting of the UP Congress Coordination Committee, which has 75 members including MLAs and MPs.
The state is gearing up for elections. Despite an aggressive campaign, Gandhi failed to help the Congress make any gains in Bihar during elections there late last year. He was, however, credited with a huge improvement in his party's performance in UP in the general elections in 2009.