Rift in committee over NSG cover

He demanded anexplanation from the Home Ministry for announcing the policy through a press-conference. “It should have been done quietly. The matter concerns not only the individual security but in turn national security,” he maintained. Senior officials, led by Home Secretary Kamal Pandey, were present although the Ministry is yet to formally respond.

The three absentees, Mishra, Heiphei and Wanchu, have charged the Home Ministry with “leaking out the new security policy to newspapers even before it was finalised. Officials of the Ministry were apparently briefing (the media) in bits and pieces. Apart from this, there was no need for the Home Secretary to officially announce, through a high-profile press-conference, the norms of the new security guidelines which should otherwise be an internal matter of the Home Ministry.”

The trio further held that the “entire process of curtailing security to some and retaining the security paraphernalia of others is under a cloud. It is strange that the Ministry has evenadopted a pick and choose policy for persons belonging to the terrorist infested areas.” Meanwhile, North Block sources said the top brass is having second thoughts about withdrawing NSG cover of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, senior BSP leader Mayawati and the editor of Punjab Kesri Ashwini Kumar. It is being argued that while Ashwini faces a real threat from Punjab militants, stripping the NSG cover of Mayawati and Mulayam would be a “bad political move” and could reflect in the BJP’s position in politically volatile UP.

But the decision to downgrade security of others stand as of now, and is likely to be implemented early next week. Sources said those whose security cover has been dropped drastically, from Z-plus to Y category, include Congress leaders Arjun Singh, Rajesh Pilot, S B Chavan and Bhajan Lal. But there are few who have been deprived only of NSG guards and put in a Z-category. Among them are Mufti Mohammed Syed, Jagdish Tytler, H K L Bhagat and Sajjan Kumar.