New Delhi / BJP working President Nadda given Z category security

Working president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – JP Nadda has been accorded with ‘Z’ category security cover of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) by the government, two ministry of home affairs official familiar with the development told HT.

The decision by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) takes into consideration the increased threat perception to Nadda, who took charge of the ruling party’s crucial post nearly four months ago.

Under the Z category all India VIP cover, Nadda will be secured round the clock by nearly 35 commandoes of CRPF on rotational basis. In addition to the proximate security, CRPF personnel will also be posted to guard Nadda’s residence in New Delhi.

Earlier during his travel, Nadda was being provided security cover by the respective state police forces.

Lately, CRPF is the preferred force of the home ministry for according security cover to the VIPs.

Home minister and BJP president Amit Shah, as first reported by HT, recently refused to take National Security Guard (NSG) cover during a meeting in the ministry as felt that he was comfortable with CRPF cover.

Similarly in September this year, after the government decided to remove former prime minister Manmohan Singh from Special Protection Group (SPG) cover, his ‘Z Plus’ security has been taken over the CRPF.

In all, CRPF secures 52 VIPs across the country. Several senior BJP leaders are currently being provided security by the CRPF. These include – union transport minister Nitin Gadkari, also receiving highest level ‘Z Plus’ cover; law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Dr Jitender Singh, Subramanian Swamy, Shahnawaz Hussain, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir and Babul Supriyo.

Former chief minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi, Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi or ‘Amma’ also enjoy the CRPF security cover.

Businessman Mukesh Ambani also has CRPF security cover but he pays for it.

The government has recently scaled down the VIP security cover of several politicians including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Shatrughan Sinha.

Other than CRPF, CISF, NSG and ITBP also have VIP security units which are responsible for safety of around 80 politicians, government officials and private persons while SPG now only secures Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.