Threat to PM at all-time high, even ministers need clearance to meet him
NEW DELHI: Sending out a warning to states about an "all-time high" threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the home ministry has put out rules in which no one can come too close to PM Modi, not even ministers and officers, if not cleared by his special security. The home ministry has written to all state police chiefs about an "unknown threat" to the PM.
PM Modi "is the most valuable target in the run-up to the 2019 general elections," the National Security Council has told various agencies tasked with the Prime Minister's safety.
"The threat always has been there but after this Naxal threat we have made each agency aware of the new threats to the PM," a senior officer told NDTV, referring to the Pune police claim that a plot to assassinate PM Modi in a "Rajiv Gandhi-type incident" during one of his roadshows had been revealed in a letter seized from a suspected Maoist.
Sources say PM Modi, who is the main campaigner for the ruling BJP in the lead-up to state elections and the 2019 polls, has been advised to cut down on road shows as planned routes present a bigger threat.
No one is allowed to be in close quarters with the PM, which is the basic rule to be followed strictly, according to top sources.
Even ministers and officers are likely to be screened by the Special Protection Group (SPG), which is in charge of protecting the Prime Minister.
"We have briefed our personnel about the new assessments and have given them a new set of rules to be followed," explained an officer, conceding, however, that the SPG rule book and arrangements have been fool-proof for more than 25 years now.
"Special instructions have been given to the close protection team (CPT) around the PM. No one can be in close proximity of the PM if not needed," he adds. This team always moves with the Prime Minister.
Public contact needs to be reduced further, believes the home ministry.
Last month, a man was able to break through six layers of security to touch PM Modi's feet in West Bengal. Sources say the number of tactical team commandos travelling with the PM will be increased.
"We can't give him instructions but we have requested him to be little careful regarding his public engagements," says the officer.
This may be a tough call in the run-up to 2019 as PM Modi is expected to address several rallies.
The home ministry has also marked areas of concern and has asked Maoist-hit states to be more careful. "The PM travels to Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal even Punjab. These are to be taken more seriously than others," adds a source.
Security agencies are believed to be specially monitoring the Kerala-based Popular Front of India (PFI), an outfit that the government believes is a front for terror groups.
courtesy : ndtv.com
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Stalin accuses Centre of trying to use women's quota as 'weapon,' slams EPS over delimitation
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the Centre over the women's reservation and accused it of trying to use it as a "weapon" to tackle the opposition before taking up the delimitation exercise based on population.
"The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population," he told PTI in an interview.
"Hence, the women's reservation must be implemented immediately without showing delimitation as a reason," the DMK president added.
Expressing apprehensions on the proposed delimitation exercise, the CM said it was the DMK that raised the first voice asserting the rights of the state after realising that Tamil Nadu would be affected by the proposed exercise. He also attacked his rival and AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami over the delimitation issue.
Recalling efforts made by the DMK to raise the issue of population-based delimitation, he said an all-party meeting and a meeting of CMs under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee seeking fair delimitation were convened. It sought to freeze delimitation for 25 years and stick to it based on the 1971 Census population.
"We urged the union government that states which successfully implemented population control programmes must not be punished," he added.
The party came up with "Tamil Nadu poradum, Tamil Nadu vellum" (Tamil Nadu will struggle, Tamil Nadu will win) and this is DMK's stand, he said.
"However, Palaniswami, who is seeking votes for the entry of the BJP through the backdoor, has till date been mute over delimitation, and this is a betrayal of the people of Tamil Nadu."
