Post-Mumbai attack has brought vehement public anger against two fronts: one against the terror organisations in Pakistan and the other against our own leaders. And rightly so, since internal mess is as critical in our fight against terror as the external threat. Or, sometimes internal problem can be more devious than the external threat as an open enemy can be less a danger than a hidden hand. Hence, post-Mumbai attack, there is a growing debate over the security of the country more especially of the common people since it is they who have borne brunt of terror attacks so far.
Public anger is all the more directed against the politicians whether men in white kurta need more security than the common people, who are more vulnerable to bomb blasts. It is not that the politicians do not need security. Yes, they do, but in most of the cases security cover has become a status symbol. More policemen, for example, protect the VIPs than the public places.
In 2004-05, more than 45,000 policemen protect the pool of VIPs in India that grew at 20 per cent per year. This means more policemen are on duty to protect 13,319 VIPs than the number of policemen in any Indian city, say Delhi and Mumbai included. In Delhi alone, more than 14,000 personnel are on VIP duties. Out of 55,000 policemen in Delhi, for example, about 30,000 were on VIP duty or were supervising rallies, demonstrations and guarding sensitive and important public places, with about 5000 in clerical jobs. Only 20,000 policemen remain for active policing.
VIPs who are protected include ministers, MPs, MLAs, judges and bureaucrats among others. Over 250 politicians are categorised as VVIPs, who are protected by the NSG black cats. Such a large number of policemen on VIP protection duty have naturally strained the limited manpower resources of the State Police. This puts the police in dire need for more personnel to guard the important institutions, places and points. It is sheer example of how leaders perceive threat and ask for VIP protection.
Take Amar Singh whose threat perception suddenly increased this year to the highest level and he got Z-Plus category security cover. The UP Chief Minister Mayawati also had got Home Ministry clearance for her Z-Plus category security cover, which means about 350 policemen are engaged for her security alone.
And what about the expenses? About Rs 825 crore of taxpayers’ money is spent annually on the salary of the security staff alone, if we assume that all 45,000 men on duty are earning Rs 15,000 each per month. With a budget of Rs 158 crores, the SPG that protects the Prime Minister and 14 others gets Rs 180 crores. All this figures are compiled by the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D).
Given the terror threat at public places, there is an urgent need to review the deployment of police for VIP protection, and which should be done on need-based assessment. For some leaders like L K Advani, Dr. Manmohan Singh along with some of his colleagues need Z-plus category due threats perception, what threat is there for Ram Vilas Paswan, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sharad Yadav, Rameshwar Thakur and E Ahmad that they are enjoying VVIPs cover? Time has come for equal security cover to the people as it is provided to the leaders. After all, people are God’s mercy to protect them even if they pay taxes for their security from the state.
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