Z+ cover: MHA keeps Ram Vilas Paswan waiting

As the Bihar election heats up, the Union home ministry is keeping NDA ally and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan waiting on his demand to upgrade his security cover even as political rival and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is finally all set to lose the elite NSG cover. The home ministry under Rajnath Singh is mulling the highest Z-plus security for Mr Paswan but has kept him waiting despite him being a strong dalit ally for the BJP.

If Mr Paswan gets the top security cover, he will be the second dalit leader and ally of the NDA to get the top level security. Earlier, former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was given similar cover ahead of the Bihar polls by the MHA.

Sources said the MHA is likely to grant Z plus cover to Mr Paswan once the file is cleared by the home minister.

Meanwhile, a review of Mr Lalu Yadav’s security by Central agencies showed the RJD chief enjoying security cover by both the CRPF and NSG commandos despite a decision being taken by the MHA to withdraw the elite NSG unit from his security detail. Sources in the security agencies said Mr Yadav will now be guarded only by the CRPF commandos and the NSG’s Black Cats will be removed. The decision to remove the Black Cat commandos had been taken along with other VVIP protectees as part of rationalising security duties of the counter-terror force.

The MHA had issued orders for providing the highest Z-plus security cover for Mr Manjhi in the run-up to Bihar polls and the task has been entrusted to the CRPF. Sources said the decision had been taken following a threat analysis conducted by Central agencies.

The CRPF, as part of its VIP security duties, already secures prominent leaders like BJP president Amit Shah and Union Cabinet ministers like Nitin Gadkari and Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The 243-seat Bihar Assembly is witnessing a tough battle in the ongoing Assembly polls between the NDA and the grand alliance of the RJD, JD(U) and the Congress.