Union ministers Farooq Abdulla, Gulam Nabi Azad, Jairam Ramesh and G K Vasan protested against the rude behaviour of Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel at 7 Race Course Road, when their cars were entering the prime minister house for a Union cabinet meeting. Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth apologised on behalf of the SPG and promised polite attittude from the commandoes in future.

Angry Farooq Abdulla narrated the incident to cabinet secretary on July 19 - before prime minister Manmohan Singh's arrival for the cabinet meeting. Gulam Nabi and Jairam said they were asked to down the window glasses and their cabinet papers were checked.

Such incidents have happened even earlier, recalled G K Vasan."This is not the first time. At least four or five similar incidents have taken place in this year."

Such security exercises are appreciated inside the PM house complex but not on the roadside. Are we unwanted elements inside 7 Race Course. Let me bring this to the notice of the prime minister..... as the words were uttered, cabinet secretary Ajit Seth apologised with folded hands. When the ministers saw the PM arriving, the issue was treated as closed.

It may be recalled that the SPG pushed a BSP MP in parliament corridors during the budget session of parliament. It was Pranab Mukherjee who apologised. "SPG will never learn they are rude, especially the team with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul think MPs are meant for illtreatment," commented a senior union minister.