U’khand Cong rebels get security reserved for only Union ministers

NEW DELHI: They may not be MLAs or in power anymore but nine sacked dissident Congress lawmakers in Uttarakhand have been provided Y-category security by the Centre

NEW DELHI: They may not be MLAs or in power anymore but nine sacked dissident Congress lawmakers in Uttarakhand have been provided Y-category security by the Centre — a privilege usually reserved for Union ministers and top officials.

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Under this category, a protectee gets around 20 guards at home, workplace, and outside when he or she is travelling. This is the third-highest category of security after ‘Z Plus’ and ‘Z’.

“The Central I ndustrial Security Force, a paramilitary under the home ministry, has been asked to take over the security of these former MLAs,” said a government official who didn’t wish to be named.

The CISF is one of the central forces that provide security to VIPs — around five dozen of them, at present.

“The protectee gets at least two personal security officers during travels. Rest of the guards are deployed at their home and office.”

The rebels led by former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna were disqualified from the state assembly under the anti-defection law after they revolted against the Congress government of Harish Rawat. Their revolt prompted the Centre to bring the hill state under President’s rule on March 27 but Rawat was reinstated after he won a Supreme Courtmonitored trust vote on May 10. The former Congress leaders formally joined the BJP in New Delhi a week after the floor test in which they were barred from voting. But the Union home ministry had ordered their security upgrade much before — in the first week of May.

Besides Bahuguna, those brought under t he central security ring include Harak Singh Rawat, Kunwar Pranav Singh ‘ Champion’, Subodh Uniyal, Pradeep Batra, Shaila Rani Rawat, Amruta Rawat, Shailendra Mohan and Umesh Sharma.

“The gunners and guards provided to all of us by the state police were withdrawn in a hurry once we decided to part ways with Harish Rawat,” said Uniyal, a former Congress lawmaker.

“Besides, local intelligence personnel visited the residence of our associate Umesh Sharma, posing as men from the income tax. Therefore, Kunwar and Sharma, asked for security. Initially, ITBP guards were deployed and the CISF formally took over later,” he said.