Punjab CM-elect Bhagwant Mann Issues Orders To Withdraw Security Cover Of 122 Former Ministers, MLAs

Seen as a move against the VIP culture in the state, the order comes a day after Mann met the Director General of Police.

Bhagwant Mann Issues Orders To Withdraw Security Cover Of 122 Former Ministers, MLAs Before Taking Over As Punjab CM (Image: Twitter)

New Delhi: Ahead of Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Bhagwant Mann taking oath as Punjab Chief Minister on March 16, the Punjab Police has withdrawn the security cover of 122 former ministers and former MLAs.

Seen as a move against the VIP culture in the state, the order comes a day after Mann met the Director-General of Police.

Mann, as quoted in a report on India Today, said, "On one hand, police stations are lying vacant, while on the other, security has been given to the leaders by setting up tents in front of their houses. We will take the load off the police. The safety of three and a half crore people is more important.”

As per the order issued by Mann on Saturday, except for the Badal family, who have been given security on the instructions of the Union Home Ministry and former chief ministers like Captain Amarinder Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi, the security cover of all other Congress and Akali Dal leaders has been lifted.

Among those who stand to lose the security cover, the prominent ones include former ministers Manpreet Singh Badal, Raj Kumar Verka, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Brahm Mohindra, Sangat Singh Gilzian and former speaker KP Singh.

The Congress leaders who have won the recent assembly elections — Pargat Singh, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Rana Gurjeet Singh, Tript Rajender Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Sarkaria and Barindermeet Singh Pahra — also figure in the list of names.

Warring, the former transport minister, who had the highest number of personnel, at 21, deployed for his security, also figure in the list.

Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, will also lose her security cover. She is currently being protected by seven personnel.

The BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal leaders set to lose their security cover include Daljit Singh Cheema, Tota Singh, Sikandar Singh Maluka, Chunni Lal Bhaga, Manoranjan Kalia, Anil Joshi, Dinesh Babbu Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, and former MLAs Sharanjit Dhillon and Pawan Kumar Tinu.

The list also has the names of former AAP MLAs Jagtar Singh Jagga, Kanwar Sandhu, Amarjit Singh Sandoa and HS Phoolka.

Lok Insaaf Party’s Bains brothers — Simarjeet Bains and Balwinder Bains — will also lose their security cover, as per the order.

Moreover, the list includes the name of former chief of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and ex-MLA Gobind Singh Longowal.

Meanwhile, mentioning that the personnel deployed on specific court orders will remain, the letter read, “In case any fresh, specific input regarding threat to a protectee is available with the local police, prior clearance may be obtained from ADGP/security, Punjab, before withdrawal of security.”