27.12.12

Government withdraws VK Singh's security cover



The government has stripped former army chief General V K Singh of his Z-plus security cover. Singh had waged a messy battle with the defence ministry over his age while in office and is now actively taking part in protests over corruption, the Delhi gangrape and other issues .
Government sources said the decision to withdraw all security provided to Gen Singh, who retired on May 31, from December 1, was taken after a home ministry review last month held there was “no threat perception’’ against the former army chief.
“Normally, all retiring army chiefs get Z-plus security for six months. It continues after that only if the threat perception is high. Gen Singh will, however,continue to stay in his government accommodation in Delhi Cantonment for six more months since he had earlier sought and obtained permission for it from defence minister A K Antony,’’ a source said.
As a Z-plus protectee, Gen Singh had around 30-35 army personnel providing him “proximate security’’ round-the-clock in shifts as well as six to seven vehicles, including the main bulletproof one. While these have now been withdrawn, as also the Delhi police outer cover, he will continue to get a “few sahayaks and secretarial staff’’ as a former army chief. Ever since he retired earlier this year, Gen Singh has been participating in several street campaigns and rallies against the government, particularly those led by Anna Hazare, and has even called for the dissolution of Parliament.
This had provoked some to question Gen Singh’s actions as a “political activist’’ while continuing to stay in government accommodation with a heavy-duty security cover. His supporters, however, contend that opposition leaders also get government accommodation and security cover.
Gen Singh and yoga guru Baba Ramdev were also among the seven named in an FIR by Delhi police for allegedly inciting a crowd to march from Jantar Mantar to India Gate to protest against the gangrape in Delhi despite police restrictions.

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