The Rajiv Gandhi Memorial at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu, where he was assassinated in May 1991, will now be guarded by armed personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the government decided on Thursday.
The Union Cabinet, which met under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s chairmanship, gave its approval for handing over the security of the memorial to CISF on the lines of the memorials located in Delhi, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters here.
With this decision, the government has accorded the same status to the Rajiv Gandhi Memorial in Sriperumbdur as the memorials of national leaders at Rajghat, Shanti Van, Vijay Ghat, Shakti Stal, Vir Bhumi, Ekta Sthal, Kisan Ghat, Samta Sthal and Sangharsh Sthal in Delhi for purposes of security, Ms. Soni said after the Cabinet meeting.
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“It (CISF security) will involve a non-recurring expenditure of about Rs. 7.06 crore towards office and residential accommodation for security personnel, arms and ammunition, transportation, and others, besides a recurring expenditure of Rs. 1.23 crore every year on the salary and allowances of these personnel,” she said.
As per the Cabinet decision taken in 2004, the security of all nine memorials in Delhi is being looked after by CISF.
The provision of security arrangements in respect of the Sriperumbudur memorial was examined by the Urban Development Ministry in consultation with the Home Ministry, which involved the CISF and Central Public Works Department.
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It was felt that the security of the Sriperumbudur memorial too should be handled by CISF as was the case of memorials in Delhi and hence the decision to deploy the paramilitary force there, Ms. Soni added.