KOLKATA/NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has beefed up security cover for BJP’s West Bengal observer Kailash Vijayvargiya by providing a bullet-proof vehicle and a portable folded ballistic shield which is seen with the SPG while protecting VVIPs in public places, in the backdrop of the attack on party’s national president JP Nadda’s motorcade on December 10.
The bulletproof SUV arrived in Kolkata on Monday from Uttar Pradesh. Additional number of CISF personnel were also engaged for Vijayvargiya’s security.
Vijayvargiya’s security ring was tightened from Monday before he left to address a rally at Pathar Pratima in Diamond Harbour, the Lok Sabha constituency of Bengal chief minister’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee in South 24 Parganas district where Nadda’s convoy was attacked.
In the attack, the windshields and window panes of Vijayvargiya were smashed and the central leader sustained injuries on his left forearm.
On the day of the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the BJP leader and inquired about his health condition.
Sources in the Bengal BJP said the party requested the Centre to provide adequate security arrangement for Vijayvargiya, alleging that the West Bengal government was not paying heed to their demand for giving him protection.
“Security lapses on the part of the state government led to the attack on Naddaji’s motorcade. The state government did not respond to a letter sent by state president Dilip Ghosh before Naddaji started for Diamond Harbour. We mentioned in the letter to the Centre that the state government’s ignorance was politically motivated as the BJP has emerged as the ruling party’s principal opposition,’’ said a BJP leader.
Sources in the MHA said that it was decided to increase the strength of CISF personnel for Vijayavargiya’s security.
The leader travelled in the new vehicle and addressed a rally announcing that his party is all set to overthrow the TMC rule.