Sadhus, babas enjoy elite security

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 23

Citing threat to their lives, the Uttarakhand government is providing security cover to several spiritual saints or babas headquartered at Haridwar at the expense of the exchequer. Besides Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Governor and Cabinet ministers there are several former ministers whose security needs are provided for by the Uttarakhand government.

Around six babas, who are understood to have renounced worldly pleasures, figure in the list of prominent persons availing security cover fit for political representatives of the Rajya Sabha. In fact, citing state intelligence reports, the Uttarakhand has upped the security category for Bhola Ji Maharaj, his wife Mangla Devi and BJP chief Ajay Bhatt. Based on the intelligence reports, the security cover (category) has been raised to Y category along with the facility of an escort.

On the other hand, the newly elected member of the Rajya Sabha Anil Baluni has declined security cover that was offered by the Uttarakhand government for his visits to Uttarakhand. In a letter written to the government, Baluni has said he does not require Y category security cover.

Others, who are receiving Y category security cover include parents of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Usually, it is the security under Z category that is the most sought after and aspired by politicians, business men and Babas. During a meeting to evaluate threat perception for prominent persons, the committee on security set up by the Department of Home recently added some new names. The security cover for a few was upgraded. Out of the X, Y, Z and Z plus categories in the state, 16 persons are under the Y-category security cover.

Chief Minister, Chief Justice and the judges of the Uttarakhand High Court fall under the Z plus category type of security. They are covered under two layers of security comprising approximately 55 security men, including 10 commandos. The Z-category comprises 30-32 security personnel, while the Y-category security cover comes with 11 security men. All the former ministers too are covered under Y- category security cover but they do not have the facility of an escort.

The BJP government under TS Rawat that came to power last year has shown exceptional consideration towards the spiritual Gurus or Babas by providing them top category of security cover.