Delhi CM-elect wants minimum and non-obtrusive security

Indicating his new pragmatic approach, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal has not declined protection provided by Delhi Police, due to him as the new chief minister of Delhi, police and AAP sources told Hindustan Times.

Indicating his new pragmatic approach, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal has not declined protection provided by Delhi Police, due to him as the new chief minister of Delhi, police and AAP sources told Hindustan Times.

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“As chief minister of Delhi, Kejriwal is entitled to highest Z-Plus category security and that we started providing to him after the assembly election results came. So far, nothing has come to us from the chief minister-elect so that he doesn’t want the security,” said a senior Delhi police official requesting anonymity.

In his first innings as the chief minister of the city state, Kejriwal had out rightly denied the security provided to him by Delhi Police. But even after his refusal and non-cooperation, the Delhi Police continued to provide him security after a threat analysis for him by the Intelligence Bureau.

The Ghaziabad police had also then offered him security as he resided in Kaushambi. But after Kejriwal refused the offer, security personnel were deployed outside his house.

“We only want minimum and non-obtrusive security for Kejriwal that can help him in not getting mobbed. We are not interested in huge security paraphernalia. That we verbally told the officials who communicated the security arrangements for Kerjiwal,” said an aide of Kejriwal.

After resigning from the post of chief minister following a 49-day stint in February last year, Kejriwal has continuously remained under security cover.

“According to rules, a protectee gets guards for six months after leaving the post. But Kejriwal continued to get Z-category security even after completion of six months after a threat perception analysis of the Intelligence Bureau with inputs from the Delhi police. Now he is entitled to get a notch higher Z-Plus category security as the CM,” said the official.

During his first tenure as the Delhi CM, the IB had reported that Kejriwal faces a security risk from desperate elements such as the water and tender mafia, which may feel threatened because of his anti-corruption policies.