New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, picked up the controversial Special Protection Group (SPG) Amendment Bill issue and said that the original intent of the law, when it was enacted in 1988, was only to protect the Prime Minister and amendments brought in by the Modi government will restore the original intent of the Act. "The proposed bill says the SPG will provide security to prime minister, and members of his immediate family residing with him at his official residence," Shah said in the lower house.

The Home Minister also added that under the amendment, SPG will also provide security to former prime ministers and his immediate family members residing with him at the residence allotted to him for a period of five years from the date on which he or she ceases to hold the office.

As the House took up the SPG (Amendment) Bill for discussion, Shah said the term 'Special' indicates its special purpose and noted that many countries have such elite and compact cover exclusively for their respective head of state.

Shah also said that there is a misconception which exists that SPG is only about physical protection. "It is not just physical security but also about covering the prime minister's office, his health and communications as well," he said.  SPG was formed on the 1985 recommendations of the Birbal Nath committee and then a law was enacted in 1988.

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However, various amendments were brought in 1991, 1994, 1999 and 2003 which diluted its purpose, Shah said, adding that the government is working to make the SPG more efficient and to rule out any negligence. One of the amendments brought family members of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, which included Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka, under the SPG cover.

The Modi government in the recent past removed the SPG cover given to them and replaced it with Z+ security. SPG cover to Dr Manmohan Singh was also withdrawn after an assessment downgraded the threat faced by him. However, the former Prime Minister now has Z-plus security cover provided by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Justifying the removal of SPG covers to the aforementioned leaders, Shah said that the move will make the act more efficient. He also pointed out that several others countries have similar protection units to ensure safety of their heads of government.

Referring to Israel, France and England, Shah said there are various other countries in the world where such protection groups provide security to the head of their nations and the place where they work and stay.

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Explaining the necessity of SPG cover for Prime Minister, the Home Minister said: "SPG is needed for the protection of the Prime Minister as he takes some tough decisions for the welfare of the country, security of the country and for the betterment of the society."

"SPG is necessary only to bring down to 'Zero' level of the threat perception to the life of Prime Minister. The SPG facility was made on the basis of the post and that the force provides security to Prime Minister, his office, his communication, and all," he said.

Shah's remarks came while moving for consideration and passing the Bill in the Lok Sabha which seeks amendment to the SPG Act, 1988 that provides for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for providing "proximate security" to the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers and members of their immediate families and for matters connected therewith.