A 'total relook' of VIP security

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 7. In a bid to streamline the norms for VIP security, the Union Home Ministry has decided to limit the security cover only to those who genuinely face threats from militants or terrorist organisations.

Announcing the new policy on VIP security, the Union Home Secretary, Mr. Kamal Pande, said a ``total relook'' was given at several aspects of VIP security by a high-level committee of experts. The committee's report was discussed by the Home Ministry and approved by the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani. The security cover being given by the Special Protection Group to the Prime Minister, former Prime Ministers and the Gandhi family was out of the purview of the expert committee.

The new policy would make the security least obtrusive without diluting its efficacy, rationalise the deployment of specialised security agencies such as the National Security Guards and extend the security cover at the Government's expense only to those who genuinely need it.

``While reviewing the VIP security, it was kept in mind that the security does not degenerate and at the same time it is not demanded as a perk by certain individuals. We will review and assess each and every case of VIP security. The revised policy will not have more VIP than security in the picture,'' Mr. Pande said during a press conference at North Block here.

There are 19 persons under the specialised security cover of the NSG and 366 others in Delhi given security cover by the Government. As many as 4,814 police personnel are on VIP security duty in Delhi. Among the 19 NSG protectees are Mr. Advani, the Chief Ministers of Assam, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. P. K. Mahanta, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Dr. Farooq Abdullah, former Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Mayawati and Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The subject of security to highly threatened individuals, mostly politicians, has always been a sensitive subject and the Home Ministry had devoted its attention to evolve new guidelines on VIP security. In the recent past, Mr. Advani had expressed a desire to have his NSG cover withdrawn.

The Home Secretary refused to go into the details of persons whose security cover would be reduced, withdrawn or upgraded. ``The exercise of review is a continuing process. Even the security cover of the Home Minister will be reviewed,'' he said.

The NSG deployment for escort and security duties would be constantly reviewed and progressively replaced by the State police escort.

Under the new guidelines, security would be provided at Government cost only on comprehensive assessment of threat by the security agencies. Such threat should predominantly come from militants or terrorists. Existence of threat to an individual from his professional rivals would not by itself be the basis for provision of security. However, due consideration would be given in cases where such threat emanates from organised criminal mafia or gangs and the protectee himself is not involved with them.

Mr. Pande clarified that provision of security has nothing to do with social status and added that ``VIP security'' would now be known as ``personal security.''

The threat assessment would be made by the Government's security experts who will recommend the level of security in each case taking into account the local threat perception. Security would not be provided merely on the ground that the person concerned had occupied a sensitive position in the past. In all cases where purely positional security had been provided to an individual, it would be withdrawn on demission of the concerned office by him.

Security in each case is reviewed by two committees, one under the Special Secretary and the other under the Home Secretary with security experts as members. It was decided that in future such reviews would be done every six months.

Similarly, government accommodation would not be recommended to anyone on the grounds of security. Static guards would not be provided where it was not feasible. The protectees who had been provided Government accommodation on security considerations would be asked to vacate the premises provided to them on security grounds after giving them notice.

The protectees would be advised to scrupulously follow the list of dos and don'ts recommended by the Home Ministry and complaints of misuse of security would be dealt with seriously.

Security personnel would be given crash courses in courtesy and behaviour in public so as to minimise inconvenience to the general public. The protectees would be periodically briefed by the security personnel and changes in security level would be informed individually.

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