Telangana: Axe on security irks Congress

Congress deputy floor leader in Council Mohd. Ali Shabbir and party leaders questioned the government for pruning the security of nearly 120 Congress legislators, MPs and leaders in the state besides withdrawing bullet proof, all this while giving security to retired police officials.

The security has been cut down from 4 + 4 to 2 + 2 (two cops at a time working in two shifts). Former Union minister S. Jaipal Reddy’s security has been cut from ‘Z’ category to ‘Y’, while security of former Union ministers S. Sathyanarayana and P. Balram Naik, who had ‘Y’ category security, has been withdrawn.

The government has withdrawn the entire security of former deputy CM Damodar Rajanarasimha, ex-ministers Ponnala Laxmaiah, Danam Nagender, M. Mukesh Goud, V. Sunitha Laxma Reddy, Basavaraju Saraiah, ex-MPs Anjan Kumar Yadav, Ponnam Prabhakar, Dr G. Vivek, Suresh Shetkar, Madhu Yakshi Goud, Vijayashanti, Mr Rajaiah, 30 MLAs and 70 other senior Congress leaders.

Congress MLCs questioned the government’s rationale in providing high security to retired police officials including H.J. Dora (Z Plus), K. Arvind Rao (Z), Swaranjit Sen, D.T. Naik, A. Sivashanker, N. Daniel, M. Venkat Reddy, R.P. Meena, V. Dinesh Reddy (all Y category), A.K. Mohanty, R.R. Girish Kumar, Umesh Kumar, S.R. Tiwari and C. Ratna Reddy (X category).

Mr Shabbir Ali has also written to the government questioning the rationale behind withdrawal of his and other leaders’ bulletproof vehicles.

“Chief Minister, ministers and some TRS leaders are now surrounded by security personnel and travel in new Rs 1.3 crore bulletproof cars. The government spent a Rs 27 crore for bulletproof cars,” he said.

“I don’t mind the government giving me 2+2 security, but it should not have withdrawn the bulletproof car. I still have security risk,” he added.