Maya was buzzed,SPG won’t let Rahul bee

Sultanpur District Magistrate S L Pande said SPG officers who came to oversee security arrangements for Rahul’s visit asked for the removal of the beehives.

District Chief Development Officer G Ram,who is supervising the work,said,“Beehives are not new to any rural setup. There were four or five beehives outside Vikas Bhawan; some have been removed. The situation is being closely monitored along with the SPG. I cannot say anything more.”

Amethi,Rahul’s Lok Sabha constituency,is part of Sultanpur district. As local MP,Rahul presides over the meetings of the district vigilance and monitoring committee which reviews development works. Other MPs and MLAs from the district,and district-level officials are members of the committee.

The meetings are held at Vikas Bhawan,a three-storey building which is

the office of the Chief Development Officer. There are beehives on the walls outside and on nearby trees.

Officials said the last meeting of the committee was held about a year ago. “Then too there were beehives,but no one bothered,” said an official. He said beehives on the building had been removed,but those on the trees had not been disturbed.

A swarm of large honeybees invaded Mayawati’s rally in Lucknow’s Ramabai Ambedkar ground on March 15. The BSP alleged a “conspiracy” by Mayawati’s opponents,and the government ordered an inquiry. The investigation,which was initially led by a DIG and DM of Lucknow,has so far produced no results.

Maqsood Alam,Sultanpur district Congress president,said,“Like others,we are concerned about the security of our leader,especially after a big swarm hovered around the dais from where Mayawati was addressing her rally. I went to Vikas Bhawan today and was happy to see that the beehives were being cleared”.