NEW DELHI, June 27: Prime Minister I K Gujral has proposed radical changes in the security cover to 500-odd VIPs in the Capital. The proposals were discussed at a high-level meeting in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) yesterday. The recommendations made by Gujral to the Committee reviewing VIP security include downgrading of protection cover with immediate withdrawal of escort cars from all the protectees.

The escort cars, it was decided, could either be given back to the VIP or withdrawn permanently after making a fresh assessment of the threat perception to the VIP.

Sources in the MHA said that this had become necessary because the Intelligence Bureau (IB) did not have any information about the latest threat perception to the individual protectees.

As per the IB report there was not much change and almost all the present protectees needed to retain their security cover. However, if a realistic review was done, only about 10 per cent would actually need security now, sources said.

The review committee, headed by Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramaniam, including Union Home Secretary K Padmanabhiah, Joint Secretary (Security) Vinay Shankar and Special Secretary V S Mathur, had not made much headway despite series of meetings over several months.

``Nobody wants to take the responsibility of downgrading anybody's security. The officers lack the will as it is going to be their neck on the chopping block if anything untoward happens to a protectee whose security has been scaled down. As of now, the threat is more to the officers than to the protectees,'' quipped a senior officer in the MHA.

Another recommendation under consideration is that the security cover provided to the judges of the Supreme Court and High Court, ministers, chief ministers and governors at the cost of the State should be withdrawn.

Security should be provided as per individual threat perception. It was felt that so much manpower of specialised agencies was being wasted by the en block statutory security cover, irrespective of the need, sources said.And those people who wanted security and some gun-toting guards around them as a status symbol, could pay for the `protection' given to them. This will not only keep the protectee happy but also fill the coffers of the government, it was felt.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.