Before Lok Sabha passed the SPG (Amendment) Bill on Wednesday, 27 November, Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Manish Tiwari exchanged barbs over the SPG cover having been withdrawn from the Gandhi family.
“I have no hesitation in saying on record that the changes that were made to the Bill earlier were made keeping in mind a single family. It is the first time it has been changed keeping in mind the security of PM,” said Shah.
He added, “Even the SPG cover that will be given to the PM Modi and his family will be eventually withdrawn after his term.”
Lashing out at Congress, Shah stated that an impression is being created that the SPG Act is being amended to withdraw the special protection that had been extended to the Gandhi family.
‘Why Was SPG Cover Removed Without Amending Law?’ Asks Congress
Congress, on the other hand, demanded that the SPG cover be provided to former prime ministers and their family members for the rest of their lives.
Congress leader Manish Tiwari lashed out the Centre saying, “The reason given to remove SPG protection provided to former prime ministers is that the number of individuals to be provided SPG cover will potentially become quite large. The same reason was given to remove security cover of Former PM Rajiv Gandhi.”
Tiwari pointed out that those protected by the SPG cover were told in June that their threat assessment was increasing.
“I want to ask that what changed between June and November that the SPG protection was removed without amending the law,” he added.
Citing that the country has a multi-party democracy, he emphasised, “Such issues should be kept above party biases. Just because some one no longer remains prime minister doesn't mean that threat posed to them due to decisions taken by them in that position reduces.”
Countering Tiwari, Shah maintained that the security of the Gandhi family has not been withdrawn but changed to ‘Z-plus’.
Shah said, “When SPG was withdrawn from ex-Prime Ministers Chandra Shekhar, IK Gujral, Manmohan Singh, no one uttered single word.”
On 26 August, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government had removed the SPG cover for former prime minister Manmohan Singh.
Singh will continue to enjoy Z-plus security cover, one of the highest, to be given by one of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), preferably by the CRPF, officials had said.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
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