Kangana Ranaut first Bollywood star to be guarded by CRPF commandos
New Delhi Actor Kangana Ranaut, who was given the Y-plus security cover by the Union Home Ministry, is the first Bollywood star to be guarded by a posse of elite commandos of the CRPF, officials said.
The CRPF, the country's largest paramilitary force, has been providing security to about 60 dignitaries and high-profile persons, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka.
Ranaut is the first Bollywood actor who will be guarded by CRPF commandos, an official privy to the development said.
Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita are also protected by the CRPF personnel. While Mukesh Ambani enjoys Z-plus security, his wife gets Y-plus security. However, they make payments in lieu of the security they get from the government.
It is immediately not known whether Ranaut will have to pay or not to the government for the security she is getting now. Under the Y-plus category security, Ranaut will be guarded by 10-11 armed commandos who will work in shifts round the clock. Among these commandos, Ranaut will have two-three armed PSOs (personal security officers) everytime she is on the move while other armed personnel will secure her residence.
The personnel at the house will have "access control" to all the people who come and go out of the house, another official said.
Y-plus security to Ranaut means a specific threat has been vetted by intelligence agencies. She is also likely to get an escort vehicle for carrying her security team.
The Z category protectee too gets escort vehicle and the Z-plus protectee gets a pilot as well as escort vehicle, the official said.
Other Bollywood stars are mostly guarded by either Maharashtra Police or by private security agencies.
The CRPF commandos are considered to be one of the best trained personnel in India who are capable of handling any crisis situation to any dignitary and give close proximity security to him or her.
As per the threat assessment report prepared by central security agencies, Ranaut may face danger to her life from narcotics syndicates and other hostile elements for speaking against them, the official said.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday welcomed the decision to provide her with central security. Ranaut's home state is Himachal Pradesh.
"I have got information that an 11-member commando team of the CRPF has been provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs for her security yesterday. I welcome this decision and also express my gratitude to union home minister. Her security is important for us," he said.
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BJP dreaming to win polls with money power: West Bengal BJP MLA after bypoll loss
Kolkata, Nov 23: As the ruling Trinamool Congress swept the by-elections in six assembly seats in West Bengal, Kurseong's party MLA Bishnu Prasad Sharma attacked the state leadership, saying the party dreams of winning polls with money power and that it sidelines legislators and gives "unnecessary importance and responsibilities" to MPs.
The TMC retained five of the six seats it had previously won during the 2021 polls, while wresting the key Madarihat seat from the saffron camp in north Bengal’s Alipurduar district.
In a Facebook post, Sharma alleged, "The BJP runs a membership drive in West Bengal over the phone from a Kolkata office, while party leaders turn a blind eye to factionalism within the party. The party sidelines MLAs and gives unnecessary importance and responsibilities to MPs. It dreams of winning elections relying on money power. Despite having no shortage of political issues in the state, it centers its politics solely around religion."
"The BJP accuses opponents of corruption while carrying Adani and Ambani on its shoulders. It tries to undermine the rights of the indigenous population by luring Bangladeshi Hindus with promises of CAA. It halts MGNREGA funds and indulges in such tactics, hoping to win elections in the state," he alleged.
On the other hand, the BJP MLA lauded TMC saying, that the ruling party in the state, armed with 26 different "pro-poor schemes" such as Kanyashree Prakalpa, Gitanjali Housing Scheme, Krishak Bandhu Scheme, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Rupashree Prakalpa, Shishu Sathi Scheme, and Student Credit Card, quietly works at the grassroots level.
"Now, you decide who will win the elections. I have never seen a culture of self-criticism within the BJP; otherwise, this outcome wouldn't have occurred," he added.
Since the 2021 assembly elections, the TMC has won every by-election, except the Sagardighi bypoll in March 2023, which was won by a Congress candidate who later switched to the TMC.
With this victory, TMC's tally in the 294-member state assembly rose to 216, further consolidating its position. The BJP's tally, on the other hand, dropped to 69, from 77 in 2021.
