Maharashtra to persuade Hazare to accept security

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Home Minister R.R. Patil both gave this indication when asked to comment over the ticklish issue.

"The police department assesses the threat perceptions to any individual and provides the required security. We have come across media reports that Hazare does not want security. The home department will speak to him over this," Chavan said.

On his part, Patil said he would personally speak to Hazare in the matter and persuade him to accept the enhanced security cover.

Last week, the government accorded Z-category security to the septuagenarian activist and social worker on his return from New Delhi after his 12-day hunger strike. Earlier he had only two bodyguards in shifts protecting him.

Following the enhanced Z-category cover, Hazare would be entitled to four armed guards and two personal security officers protecting him round-the-clock, along with a police vehicle which would accompany his vehicle or convoy whenever he stepped out of his native village, Ralegan-Siddhi in Ahmednagar district.

However, Hazare has repeatedly declined to accept the enhanced security on grounds that it would restrict his interactions with the masses.

A few days ago, the 74-year-old Hazare had said that freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Rajguru did not have any security.

“Then, what is the need for me to have any security,” he asked.