No more 'Black Cat' cover for Chandrababu Naidu & 12 others
By Newsmeter Network Published on 13 Jan 2020 6:44 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 12 others will not have the 'Black Cat' protection from the elite National Security Guard. According to the latest decision of the Centre, the paramilitary forces, which are already providing security to 130 VIPs, will take up their protection responsibility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government has already withdrawn security to 350 VIPs across the country. Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi family are also among those, for whom the NSG security cover has been withdrawn.
The Black Cat commandos have been protecting VIPs for the last two decades. The 13 high-profile people, including Chandrababu Naidu, each has 25 NSG personnel guarding them.
The other 12 VIPs include Union Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Assam CM Sharvananda Sonowal, former CMs Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Prakash Singh Badal, Farooq Abdullah and BJP senior leader LK Advani.
The Centre set up the NSG in 1984 to tackle terrorists and hijackers and protecting VIPs was not a part of its agenda. PM Modi wants NSG to dedicate itself to its core responsibility. The latest decision will help the NSG get back 450 commandos as they will be relieved of VIP duties.
The government had been mulling over withdrawing NSG cover for VIPs since 2012, said an official.
"During the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, the government had deployed 400 NSG commandos for three days. Hence, we need NSG commandos in good numbers. That's the reason why the Centre withdrew NSG cover for VIPs," added the official.
