The security cover for Congress chief and CPP leader Sonia Gandhi has been beefed up since the campaign on the issue of her foreign origin intensified.Following a review meeting last evening, Home Secretary Anil Baijal issued directions for her SPG cover to be strengthened. Security personnel were deployed along the route she travelled — between 10, Janpath and Parliament, and to AICC headquarters, Akbar Road. Securing of the route was hitherto reserved only for the PM and the Deputy PM. Not only was the SPG cover tightened, even the second ring of security by Delhi Police has been strengthened. According to the assessment by intelligence agencies, she has been under threat from various militant organisations of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and also the LTTE. There were reports of Babbar Khalsa — a militant group which posed a threat to Sonia Gandhi — trying to regroup. Moreover, fearing a violent reaction from political activists after her refusal to accept the PM’s post, the Home Ministry sent advisories to all states to beef up security of party leaders and establishments.Vigil had also been mounted at the residences of NDA leaders, particularly L.K. Advani and Sushma Swaraj, as the threat assessment indicates that NDA leaders could be targeted by angry Congress activists. Apart from increasing security of VVIPs, the Home Ministry also asked state police to be alert to prevent any political clashes.
