Home scans DPM, Sonia security

The Ministry has also asked the National Security Guards (NSG) to send a team of experts to Kanyakumari to look into the security of Advani’s ‘‘rath’’ and bullet-proof the vehicle. This will be necessary as the DPM will be crossing parts of Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh which are considered strongholds of the People’s War Group.

The Home Ministry’s step comes after the SPG, which guards the Congress president, expressed concern over Sonia Gandhi’s security during the road shows in western UP, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh where she often broke barricades to get close to her voters.

The move comes as Justice J.S. Verma, who looked into the security lapses during Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991, had in his report put the onus of security of leaders on their parties and organisers of election meetings. The SPG has already written to the Congress on Sonia’s security and the advisory sent today is to reiterate that the party should also discharge its responsibility. The Ministry has called a meeting of all state chief secretaries and police chiefs on April 9 to discuss the security arrangements.

The decisions came at a meeting last evening chaired by Home Secretary Anil Baijal and attended by the NSG Director, SPG Director, Intelligence Bureau Special Director, Joint Secretary (VVIP Security) and a Delhi Police Special Commissioner who handles the PSOs of the VVIPs. The advisories have been dispatched to other political parties as well.

The IB has been asked to suggest an officer who will act as nodal security officer for Advani’s yatra. While NSG provides the proximate security to Advani, the state police forces have been detailed to provide road opening parties as well as peripheral security to the DPM.