Force crunch cited as reason, babus cry foul
Security of TD floor leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao, PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, former home minister Sabita Indra Reddy was scaled down
Hyderabad: In a major security revamp for VIPs in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Intelligence Security wings of both the states stripped several former ministers and MLAs of gunmen and bulletproof cars. In Andhra Pradesh, 225 VIPs have been stripped of security guards and AP police is providing security to around 350 political and bureaucratic functionaries.
The police claimed that based on a realistic threat perception, this is the first time in the recent past that such massive security cover has been cut. In Telangana, personal security officers for 181 VIPs have been removed and security of 38 leaders, including TD floor leader Errabelli Dayakar Rao, PCC president Ponnala Lakshmaiah, former home minister Sabita Indra Reddy was scaled down.
Security to former ministers Mukesh Goud and Danam Nagendar has been removed totally. In AP, security cover of MLA and former ministers, including Kanna Lakshminarayana was removed. Police also withdrew his bulletproof car. AP director-general of police J.V. Ramudu, said, “We have a big force crunch. So, we are only providing security in genuine cases based on threat perceptions.”
While the former ministers are crying foul over this decision, a senior official said security is given at the cost of the public exchequer. It’s purely apolitical. Filmstars, sportspersons are also not getting any cover.
Next Story
