Rahul Gandhi gets death threats, cancels tour to poll-bound southern India

India's main opposition Congress party's second-in-command Rahul Gandhi has cancelled a visit to poll-bound central government-controlled territory of Puducherry and the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala in southern India apparently after receiving death threats.

The scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family late Monday night apoplogized for cancelling his visit to the two states and Puducherry where elections are slated for May 16, saying he had been running high fever since Sunday and has been advised rest by doctors for the next two days.

"My apologies to the ppl of Puducherry, Tamil Nadu & Kerala for missing this opportunity of being with them on 10th &11th May as planned. Unfortunately, I have been down with high fever since Sunday and the doctor has advised rest for the next two days," Gandhi's office tweeted.

However, the Indian government has tightened Gandhi's security after senior Congress leaders had met Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday and apprised him of the potential assassination threats the party's vice-president got from Puducherry.

Sources said that the Home Minister has approved more security guards for Gandhi and issued extra caution for intelligence agencies.

Gandhi, the son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, is at high risk and is currently protected by the commandoes of the elite Special Protection Group that handles the security of the current and former Prime Ministers and members of the Gandhi family.

And when he visits states, local police force also provides more security guards.

Gandhi's father was assassinated by a suicide bomber at an election meeting in Tamil Nadu in 1991. Endit