BJP's demand for increased security to the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi saw a fresh slugfest between the main opposition and the ruling Congress
with the Centre making it clear that there was little scope for an
upgrade as he already enjoyed the highest 'Z-plus' protection by NSG
commandos and was not eligible for SPG cover.
BJP on Tuesday night made the demand at the party's parliamentary board meeting, in the presence of Modi and other top rung leaders. After passing a resolution at the board meeting, BJP on Wednesday sought heightened security cover for Modi in light of the serial bomb blasts at his rally in Patna last month.
BJP accused the Centre and the Bihar government of failing to prevent the Patna blasts which it claimed was "aimed at liquidating" Modi and other leaders.
The Centre rejected BJP's charge and said adequate and required security was given to Modi and ruled out Special Protection Group (SPG) cover as it would require changing the laws.
Minister of state for home RPN Singh on Wednesday said Modi's security detail was commensurate with his threat perception, while ministry officials suggested that the onus was as much on the states to secure rally venues as on BJP to be mindful of the threat perception and on the VIP himself not to exit his security cordon to get closer to the public.
Asked about BJP's demand for "foolproof security" to Modi and its allegations that the Patna blasts were meant to "liquidate the party leadership", Singh told reporters, "We have already given adequate security to Narendra Modi."
Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told reporters in West Bengal that extending SPG cover to Modi would require an amendment to the SPG Act. SPG is mandated to provide security only to the prime minister, former prime ministers and their immediate kin.
Citing the blasts and media reports that there was a heightened threat to Modi, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar alleged that there was "gross negligence" on part of the Centre and the Bihar government as even standard operating procedures for security like frisking, sanitization of the area and metal detectors were not used at the Patna rally.
"We cannot do politics on terror. The country has lost two prime ministers due to terrorism and we should learn lessons from this. We hope the Centre will take note of the threat to Narendra Modi and to all other leaders who have a threat against then and not do politics on the issue of security. We demand that Modi be provided adequate security," he said.
BJP demanded that the Centre give directions to states to provide requisite security to Modi whenever he visits. Modi is expected to address around 100 rallies across the country in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls.
It also sought to know why Congress had fallen silent after an initial condemnation of the blasts. "What does Congress have to say in the light of new facts which have emerged about the blasts," Javadekar said, adding that the government should not be soft on terror.
Congress spokesman Raj Babbar reportedly compared Modi to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab, alluding to the gunman too having lived under security. However, following an uproar, Babbar clarified, "I have not compared Modi with Kasab. I only said that security is the right of every individual, be it the PM candidate of BJP or Kasab, a poor man or a highly placed official. They should understand I have only given an example and not compared the two."
Taking a dig at its main rival BJP, another Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said, "Now, he (Modi) wants to look like the prime minister without becoming one."
BJP on Tuesday night made the demand at the party's parliamentary board meeting, in the presence of Modi and other top rung leaders. After passing a resolution at the board meeting, BJP on Wednesday sought heightened security cover for Modi in light of the serial bomb blasts at his rally in Patna last month.
BJP accused the Centre and the Bihar government of failing to prevent the Patna blasts which it claimed was "aimed at liquidating" Modi and other leaders.
The Centre rejected BJP's charge and said adequate and required security was given to Modi and ruled out Special Protection Group (SPG) cover as it would require changing the laws.
Minister of state for home RPN Singh on Wednesday said Modi's security detail was commensurate with his threat perception, while ministry officials suggested that the onus was as much on the states to secure rally venues as on BJP to be mindful of the threat perception and on the VIP himself not to exit his security cordon to get closer to the public.
Asked about BJP's demand for "foolproof security" to Modi and its allegations that the Patna blasts were meant to "liquidate the party leadership", Singh told reporters, "We have already given adequate security to Narendra Modi."
Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde told reporters in West Bengal that extending SPG cover to Modi would require an amendment to the SPG Act. SPG is mandated to provide security only to the prime minister, former prime ministers and their immediate kin.
Citing the blasts and media reports that there was a heightened threat to Modi, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar alleged that there was "gross negligence" on part of the Centre and the Bihar government as even standard operating procedures for security like frisking, sanitization of the area and metal detectors were not used at the Patna rally.
"We cannot do politics on terror. The country has lost two prime ministers due to terrorism and we should learn lessons from this. We hope the Centre will take note of the threat to Narendra Modi and to all other leaders who have a threat against then and not do politics on the issue of security. We demand that Modi be provided adequate security," he said.
BJP demanded that the Centre give directions to states to provide requisite security to Modi whenever he visits. Modi is expected to address around 100 rallies across the country in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls.
It also sought to know why Congress had fallen silent after an initial condemnation of the blasts. "What does Congress have to say in the light of new facts which have emerged about the blasts," Javadekar said, adding that the government should not be soft on terror.
Congress spokesman Raj Babbar reportedly compared Modi to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab, alluding to the gunman too having lived under security. However, following an uproar, Babbar clarified, "I have not compared Modi with Kasab. I only said that security is the right of every individual, be it the PM candidate of BJP or Kasab, a poor man or a highly placed official. They should understand I have only given an example and not compared the two."
Taking a dig at its main rival BJP, another Congress spokesperson Meem Afzal said, "Now, he (Modi) wants to look like the prime minister without becoming one."
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