Don't waste resources on protecting just me, protect everybody, said Mahua Moitra.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Saturday shot off a letter to the Delhi police chief requesting to withdraw three security personnel, armed with "assault rifles", positioned outside her home in Delhi. "It appears to me that I am under some sort of surveillance," said Ms Moitra who also tweeted several photos of the security officials.
Ms Moitra said that she was informed that the officers were deputed from Barakhamba Road police station for her protection. In her letter to Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava, she pointed out that she had never asked for any protection "being an ordinary citizen of this country".
The police, however, said it was a routine deployment.
"It was a routine deployment. However, as per the request received, we have taken back our force," a senior officer was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.
"The conduct of these armed officers indicate that they are making notes of movements to and from my residence, it appears to me that I am under some sort of surveillance," she wrote in the letter.
The MP from West Bengal's Krishnanagar also mentioned that the station house officer (SHO) of Barakhamba Road police station had come to meet her at her residence on February 12 and shortly "thereafter, around three Border Security Force personnel armed with assault rifles had been deputed outside my residence."
"Don't waste resources on protecting just me, protect everybody. I don't need anything special. I don't take security. If you're surveilling me, ask me and I will tell you. Indian democracy is already under threat, don't make us feel like we're living in Russian Gulag," Ms Moitra was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
Ms Moitra had earlier said "India is in a state of undeclared emergency", referring to the crackdown on the farmer protests.
Mahua Moitra made headlines this week after her remarks in parliament on a former Chief Justice of India. Ms Moitra is facing a privilege motion moved by BJP MPs over the speech.