HYDERABAD: Following possible threat to pontiff Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopananda Saraswathi for his remarks on Shirdi Sai Baba, the Telangana state government directed the police to provide ‘Z’ category security to him during his three-day stay in Telangana districts and Hyderabad.
Deputy Secretary, protocol, S Arvinder Singh, directed DGP Anurag Sharma, IG of Intelligence Security Wing (ISW) and Hyderabad police commissioner to provide ‘Z’ category security to the pontiff. The pontiff will arrive here on October 23 from Vijawayada and would participate in a programme to be held in Secunderabad. On October 24, he would proceed to Warangal and on October 26, he will visit Vemulawada and then proceed to Kolkata the same day.
The pontiff made controversial remarks on Shirdi Sai Baba and a section of devotees vented anger and staged protests at various places. Recently, the pontiff also made similar remarks on Shirdi Sai Baba in Andhra Pradesh. The Deputy Director, department of Protocol, would supervise the visit of pontiff by co-ordinating with the other officials of different wings. The Protocol officials also directed the RGIA CISF Commandant to provide necessary courtesies and facilities to the pontiff inside the airport.