BJP Parliamentary Board passes resolution, demands PM-level security for Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Parliamentary Board on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding a Special Protection Group (SPG) level security for its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. "Modi's security is the responsibility of the Central government. Give Modi PM level security," the party demanded.

Modi has been accorded Z-plus security with round-the-clock protection by elite National Security Guard commandos.

Last week, government had ruled out providing SPG security to Narendra Modi saying BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate does not need it. "Narendra Modi has been given sufficient security. He does not need the SPG security," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had said.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had demanded SPG protection for the party's Prime Ministerial candidate after his rally in Patna was rocked with a series of explosions.

Swamy urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to amend the SPG Act to extend its security cover to "principal candidates for the post of Prime Minister in the fortchcoming elections in 2014."

According to the SPG Act, the specialised commando force is mandated to provide proximate security to the Prime Minister and former Prime Minister of India and members of their immediate families.