NEW DELHI: The Centre has accorded “Z” category security to the Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh following increased threat perception. Singh has been caught in the crossfire within the Samajwadi Party, with the Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav having accused him of triggering feud within the party.
Singh, who was re-inducted in the SP after six years, had been again expelled by the state chief minister after assuming the leadership of the party. The Rajya Sabha MP will get the security cover to be provided by the central paramilitary commandos.
An order on “Z” security cover for Singh was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs late Saturday night, said a senior official, who added that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has already taken over the task of the controversial SP leader. The official claimed that there had been intelligence inputs in the recent times which suggested threats to the SP leader.
Singh has been a long time colleague of the SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and had thrown his weight behind Shivpal Singh Yadav in the war within the Yadav clan. The security cover will be available with Singh whenever he moves around in Uttar Pradesh. The Rajya Sabha MP gets security cover in the national capital from the Delhi police.
The SP leader had earlier been a protectee of the CISF from 2008 to mid-2016. Afterward, the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an order withdrawing the security cover, which was entrusted to the state police.