VIPs protest against security withdrawal

NEW DELHI, JUNE 11: Denying or granting a specialised security cover may be the Union Home Ministry's prerogative but some of its recent ...

NEW DELHI, JUNE 11: Denying or granting a specialised security cover may be the Union Home Ministry8217;s prerogative but some of its recent decisions have provoked angry, red-faced VIPs to make a beeline for the North Block.

Former Union Minister Aslam Sher Khan, in a strongly worded two-page representation to Union Home Minister LK Advani, has accused him of playing into the hands of his bureaucrats when it came to deciding who would or won8217;t get a security umbrella. These officials, Advani has been told, go by a wholly unauthorised pick-and-choose method, often ignoring the genuine requirements of an individual.

Khan8217;s Z-category security cover was removed last week after the ministry curtly informed him that he might be unsafe in Madhya Pradesh but not in Delhi. He scoffs at the suggestion. In his detailed letter to Advani on Thursday, he asked: 8220;When the general perception is that law and order is deteriorating day by day in Delhi, what is the rationale for downgrading the security? That too on the eveof the elections when the law and order situation is worsening?8221;

Ashwini Minna, editor of Punjab Kesri is another rattled man amidst reports that the ministry is seriously contemplating downgrading his Z-plus security cover . 8220;I recently received threats from Canada,8221; said Minna, recalling that two of his family members have already been killed by the Punjab extremists. 8220;Now, my entire family lives under the shadow of danger,8221; he says, adding that his wife has already spoken to Advani about the latest threats.

Minna insists that while for some clutching on to security at any cost has become a matter of prestige, it is a genuine necessity for many like him. According to him, a number of senior politicians flaunting armed NSG commandos belong to the first category.

Advani was not available for comments. But officials in the North Block disclosed that Khan8217;s letter had been forwarded to Home Secretary Kamal Pandey who has been asked to 8220;examine8221; various allegations levelled by him.

Khan haswritten to Advani that after the ministry8217;s action he approached a senior North Block official, only to be told that 8220;the Home Minister wants that security should be withdrawn.8221; The former minister who recently quit the BJP has asked Advani: 8220;I want to know whether the security of political leaders is being changed on your instructions. I want to know whether this is the criteria?8221;

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Urging Advani to restore his security, Khan points out that if necessary, a 8220;fresh security threat analysis from a competent authority8221; could be called for.

Khan has reminded Advani that during his ministership in the Prime Minister8217;s Office when Narasimha Rao was the PM he had exposed the designs of ISI and underworld from various public platforms. 8220;It is a pity that the security of an all-India leader from a minority community who actively exposed the activities of fundamentalists and obscurantists has been removed without a proper assessment,8221; he complains.