AAP effect: Vasundhara Raje cuts VIP security

JAIPUR: More than 300 Rajasthan policemen have been relieved of VIP security following chief minister Vasundhara Raje's decision to scale down measures for the protection of legislators in what is widely seen as the effect of Aam Aadmi Party's example. These policemen will instead be sent back to their original chore: maintaining law and order.

Raje has scaled down her own security by half. Although security officials refused to share the exact details, about 100 security guards and gunmen who were part of the security at her house, office and cavalcade, are being relieved.

The step will ease an already over-burdened police force which has 17,000 vacancies. A senior police officer said one guard was deputed for the security of each MLA in the 200-seat assembly in Rajasthan. Two gunmen and five security guards are deputed for the security of each minister.

"The government has decided not to depute guards for the new MLAs. The ministers, however, will continue to have the same security," an officer said. He added that security will be provided to MLAs on the basis of threat perception, which will be reviewed regularly at the police headquarter. In a conference of district collectors and SPs held at the chief minister's office on Thursday, Raje had asked ministers to use minimum security.

"The number of guards has been reduced at CM's bungalow and office," said the officer. The security guard relieved from VIP duty will be deputed for maintaining the law and order, said DGP Omendra Bhardwaj.