The Centre has removed the Z plus security cover provided by the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos to Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Mr. Yadav’s security cover has been downgraded to Z category, which will have Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel guarding him.
Home Ministry also scrapped the security cover of former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and downgraded the Z security cover of Union Minister of State Haribhai Parthibhai Chowdhary to Y plus.
The Union government also downgraded the VIP security cover of former Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Syed Ahmed Shah Bukhari, former Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung and former Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi.
At present, more than 300 VIPs are covered under various categories. While SPG (Special Protection Group) provides security the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers and their close family members, others like Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav are protected by the NSG commandos.
The Centre justifies VIP security in the name of “security threats” assessments made primarily by the Intelligence Bureau. The recent addition to the list of VIPs protected by the counter-terror and counter-hijack force of NSG is Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Last year, the Central government removed the NSG security cover of former Assam Chief Ministers Tarun Gogoi and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. An official said that relieving NSG of VIP security duties was their priority as it is a specialised counter-terror force.
