Punjab CM cuts down his own security

Downsizing security provided to opposition leaders isn’t uncommon by the government in power, but on Friday an order was issued to withdrawn close to 400 security personnel engaged in the security of Punjab chief minister. The cut down in VIP security in the state by over 2000 men was decided in a meeting chaired by CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday.

This was done to create necessary infrastructure for better policing by diverting precious resources to more essential task of ensuring law and order in Punjab. The withdrawal announced after the meeting includes the CM’s security which has been cut down from 1392 to 1016. In addition, around 1500-odd security personnel have been withdrawn in other categories of constitutional and government functionaries.

The CM has already ordered an end to all deployment of security personnel on his travel routes. The government the CM security was likely to be cut down even more after the next round of review based on fresh reports on threat perceptions.

The CM during the meeting made it clear that he does not want any security beyond the bare necessity. The existing security policy will also be reviewed.  During the last security review carried out in March, by a Committee headed by Punjab DGP (Law and Order), 749 police and paramilitary personnel were withdrawn from various categories of protectees.

The meeting took note of the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs which clearly state that the tendency to continue with the security arrangements even in the absence of real threat should be avoided. The Congress manifesto had also clearly stated that the unhealthy trend of using police by politicians and bureaucrats as personal security will be strongly discouraged.