The Ministry of Home Affairs has given a Z category CRPF security cover to Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. The security cover will be provided in the state of Karnataka only and the Central Reserve Police Force will soon take the charge of security, reported ANI citing sources.
The Z category security cover, India's third-highest degree of security, includes a 22-member crew comprising 4 to 5 personnel of the National Security Guard and police personnel.
The BJP leader has been accorded the security cover based on an Intelligence Bureau report, stating threat perception to the Karnataka veteran leader, shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
As per the ANI report citing sources, Yediyurappa is in danger from radical groups in Karnataka. The CRPF commandos will provide security to the veteran BJP leader during his stay in Karnataka and his movement across the state.
The order by MHA to provide Z category security cover to Yediyurappa was sent to the CRPF days after the former Chief Minister recently announced that he along with other state BJP leaders will soon begin a state-wide tour aimed at highlighting “failures” of the Congress government, and to strengthen his party ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa is one of the stalwarts in Karnataka politics for nearly five decades and is known for his leadership of the Lingayat community, which is one of the major vote banks in the state.
The Government of India provides security cover to recognised personalities whose lives are at jeopardy owing to their work or popularity. After assessing the dangers, various sorts of security covers are provided based on the information provided by the intelligence agencies.
The security covers are separated into five distinct categories — X, Y, Z, Z+, SPG — wherein the SPG is accorded to The Prime Minister of India, former Prime Ministers of India, and members of their families.