In a surprise move, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government took away or downgraded security cover of several leaders, including former UP CMs Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav and Samajwadi Party MPs Dimple Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav and SP leaders like Shivpal Yadav and Azam Khan.
Meanwhile, some got their security cover upgraded, including firebrand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vinay Katiyar, who will now get Z category security.
According to a Times of India report, the decision was taken following a meeting of security committee comprising principal secretary (home), ADG Intelligence and ADG (security) with newly-appointed DGP Sulkhan Singh. The order came into effect from April 22 night.
Earlier, at least 151 VIPs were enjoying graded security, Now, the cover has been totally withdrawn from 105 of them, and it has been downgraded in the case of 46 VIPs.
Prominent among those who totally lost their security cover is BSP national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Satish Chandra Mishra. Mishra got security cover both from the state and Centre. Former state chief secretary and ‘close aide’ of Akhilesh Yadav – Alok Ranjan too stands to lose his security . Two controversial SP MLCs, Ashu Malik and Atul Pradhan, have also been stripped of their security cover.
Earlier UP CM Yogi Adityanath had hinted that he would remove the security cover of those who were “enjoying security cover for the sake of status symbol.” The UP CM believes that these security personnel should be deployed to take care of the common man.
