CPI leadership backs WB unit on seat-sharing issue

CPI leadership backs WB unit on seat-sharing issue
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

MUMBAI, MARCH 8: The State Government on Wednesday denied that there was any reduction in the security provided to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, his son Uddhav and nephew Raj.

``There is absolutely no change in the security cover provided to the three Sena leaders. In fact, Bal Thackeray has been given much more security than prescribed under the Z-plus category,'' Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said.

Under the Z-plus category, a person is provided 43 officials and two vehicles, while Bal Thackeray was given 206 officials and 11 vehicles. Now, the number of persons have been reduced to 158 and vehicles to seven. Similarly, the strength of security officials provided to Uddhav and Raj has not been changed at all. ``Under the Z security cover, a person is given 34 officials and one vehicle. However, they were given two vehicles. Now, one vehicle has been withdrawn,'' Bhujbal added.

According to the Deputy CM, from 1984-85 Bal Thackeray was given Y category security which was upgraded to Z category in 1992-93 following threats to his life from terrorists, particularly from Pakistan and other Islamic countries. Subsequently, when the Sena-BJP government came to power in 1995, it was further upgraded to Z-plus.

Replying to a question, Bhujbal said, as a Home Minister, he was not connected with the process of providing security covers to politicians or for that matter to any individual, since it was decided by a high-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary.

Former chief minister Narayan Rane had met Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Tuesday in connection with the issue. He had threatened that all the Sena leaders would forego the security cover till the earlier security to Raj and Uddhav was restored.