Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today said that there is no need for Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, to be guarded by the Special Protection Group or SPG, which protects the Prime Minister and other VVIP politicians like Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Mr Modi's security has become a boldface controversy after a series of bombs exploded ahead of his rally in Patna on Sunday, killing six people and injuring 83.
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The Home Minister told reporters today, "Narendra Modi has been given sufficient security. He does not need the Special Protection Group (SPG)."
The comments come amid allegations that even the most basic precautions were overlooked for Mr Modi's rally. There were no metal detectors to scan people at the venue and no safety and emergency drills were conducted before the rally.
Mr Modi is currently protected by the National Security Guard or NSG, and the Gujarat police. The 63-year-old leader is flanked by at least 80 to 100 NSG commandos at all times. Sources say Mr Modi has been given the NSG security because of the threats to his life from terror outfits.
Others like Tamil Nadu's J Jayalalithaa and Assam's Tarun Gogoi also have the elite protection because of the serious threats they face because of specific issues in their states.
In September, after Mr Modi was declared the BJP's choice for prime minister, central intelligence agencies wrote to all state governments warning that he is a likely target for different groups, and that maximum security must be ensured for him when he travels to different states for election rallies and other events.
The NSG has denied any responsibility for not sanitising the venue of Mr Modi's rally in Patna. "NSG is only responsible for Mr Modi's security while he is travelling. It is the state government's responsibility to protect him," said NSG director general Arbind Ranjan.
The Intelligence Bureau in Bihar had warned the state police in writing that Mr Modi could be "targeted by rabid groups."
But the Bihar Police said that written warning "did not have specific information."
The NSG provides "proximate security" or a ring of commandos that form the closest circle around the chief minister. NSG officers have informal discussions on the venue and the route and type of security that the state government will offer when the protectee is in town.
Sources say to give Narendra Modi SPG protection, the government will need to either amend the SPG Act or adopt SPG protection protocol for him.
