New Delhi: Congress has given a notice in Rajya Sabha to discuss the issue of ‘profiling’ of Rahul Gandhi with party leaders stressing the need for a debate on the issue.

“We will certainly raise this issue in Parliament with all the strength at our command,” Congress leader Ashwini Kumar said on Monday.

“It’s almost similar to espionage, Delhi police officer is not revealing his identity,” Congress leader PC Chacko said.

With the SP and JD(U) also giving notices in Rajya Sabha for discussion on alleged snooping, the stage is set for another round of confrontation in the House between the government and the opposition.

“The intent and entire exercise is absurd in its entirety, what is going to come out of this profiling of public figures?” Congress leader Manish Tewari said.

Manish Tewari also questioned the government’s intent.

“Intent was wrong in the first place, are we running a colonial government that we need to profile political leaders?” he asked.

“There must be a legal basis and oversight of our intelligence agencies, to put an end to this,” he said.

The BJP, meanwhile, slammed Congress for making an issue out of a routine security audit that has covered several important leaders.

“One is unable to understand what is substance of Cong protest. Delhi Police has said it was routine, over 500 people were profiled,” BJP leader Nalin Kohli said.

The security audit has been in place since 1957, with a more detailed exercise being undertaken since 1999, and has included Sonia Gandhi and former prime ministers.