NEW DELHI: The Janata Dal leader, Mr V.P. Singh, has declined a Government offer for additional security by the Special Protection Group which guards Mr Rajiv Gandhi.
The offer was made over telephone on Tuesday night by the Cabinet Secretary, Mr T. N. Seshan, who as Secretary (Security) is effectively the head of the SPG.
Mr. Seshan is believed to have told Mr Singh that he has arranged to send over a contingent of SPG security guards to his house in Lodi Estate.
The Janata Dal leader curtly refused, saying he is not interested in more security than he has. His present protection force consists of two personal guards provided by the Delhi Police,
Mr Singh had earlier refused another offer by the Government for additional security. This was a couple of months ago when he said he feared an attempt would be made to kill him.
The day he issued this statement, the police sent over some guards to his house without informing him. The guards took up positions at the gate and immediately started screening all his visitors. Mr V.P. Singh was not in town that day.
After some hours of drama, Mrs Singh finally managed to send the guards away saying her husband didn’t want more security.
Meanwhile, the Government is believed to have issued instructions to step up security for 13 other elected opposition leaders, including Mrs Maneka Gandhi and Mr Arun Nehru.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 15, 1989
