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Journalism of Courage
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.
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he approached a senior North Block official, only to be told that 8220;the Home Minister wants that security should be withdrawn.8221; The former minister who recently quit the BJP has asked Advani: 8220;I want to know whether the security of political leaders is being changed on your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;
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.
