Amar Singh’s ‘Z’ Security Fuels Rumours of BJP’s Role in SP Feud

In June 2016, the ruling government had withdrawn the high-profile security cover that Singh had enjoyed.

Amar Singh’s security cover has been provided ‘Z’ category security by Ministry of Home Affairs. (Photo: IANS)

The Ministry of Home Affairs has upgraded Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh’s security cover to a ‘Z’ category, reports NewsX.

Interestingly, this makes Amar Singh only the second Samajwadi Party (SP) leader after Mulayam Singh Yadav to be given ‘Z’ security. The move has sparked speculation in political circles that Singh may be in a tacit understanding with the BJP.

Under the new security cover, Singh will be guarded by 24 personnel, including four or five National Security Guard (NSG) commandos.

His residential and official premises will be guarded around the clock while he will also be provided extra security – by the Delhi police or Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Amar Singh is a ‘BJP Agent’: SP MP Naresh Agrawal

Reacting to Amar Singh’s security upgrade, SP Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agrawal has said that Singh is being rewarded for being a “BJP agent”.

He said that giving Singh ‘Z’ category security is proof of the accusation that the BJP is trying to split the SP.

Agrawal, who has been recently expelled by Mulayam Singh Yadav, said that their fight isn’t with Mulayam but with people like Amar Singh and asserted that the SP could unite under Akhilesh Singh Yadav.

He Also Enjoyed ‘Z’ Security During UPA 2

When the NDA government came into power in 2014, Amar Singh had ‘Z’ category security. However, in the subsequent months, his security cover was downgraded before being completely withdrawn in June 2016.

Interestingly, Singh now has the ‘Z+’ category security that he had enjoyed during the UPA government in 2008.

While it is unclear why Singh has been suddenly given ‘Z’ category security, reports say the security cover has been provided after a committee headed by the Union Home Secretary filed a threat-based assessment.

However politically, the decision to give Singh the second highest security cover in the country is being seen as an indication of the BJP’s involvement in the power struggle in Uttar Pradesh’s ruling party.

“Signatures of MLA Support Are Forged”

Meanwhile, Amar Singh has alleged that the signatures garnered by the Akhilesh camp – to lay claim to the SP’s ‘cycle’ election symbol – have been forged.

Commenting on Ram Gopal Yadav’s meeting with the Election Commission, Singh also said he wasn’t convinced about the authenticity of the signatures. Akhilesh claims to have gathered 212 signatures of party MLAs to prove his claim over the SP cycle symbol.

Singh also said that the number of MLAs matters when a government has to be formed, and not for a party symbol.

(Sources: NewsX, India Today, The Newsminute)