Give security to Sanjiv Bhatt, family: MHA to Modi government

NEW DELHI: Union home ministry on Tuesday asked the Gujarat government to provide adequate security to the jailed IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt, his wife Shweta Bhatt and other family members on the basis of threat perception.

The "direction" to the state government came in response to a letter from Bhatt's wife to the home minister, requesting for security for her husband. The home ministry is also independently assessing the threat perception for the jailed official. "He may be provided security on the basis of local threat perception," the letter from the Centre said.

Meanwhile, the BJP defended the state police's action against Bhatt. "The official had misused his position. The due process of law is being followed," party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters here.

The counter-attack on political opponents came on a day Anna Hazare said that Narendra Modi had done "wrong" by arresting Bhatt as the matter was with the Supreme Court. "Bhatt has submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court. The matter is with the Supreme Court. Then what is the need to arrest him. This is wrong," Anna had said at a press conference.

When asked about Hazare's criticism, Sitharaman said, "He has probably not got the details of the case… The facts will definitely reach him." Bhatt was arrested on Friday on the basis of an FIR filed against him by police constable KD Pant for allegedly forcing him to sign a false affidavit with regard to a meeting called by Modi in 2002 within hours of the Godhra train massacre.

The BJP's cautious approach towards Hazare was understandable as the party's strategy was aimed at gaining political mileage from supporting his anti-corruption campaign.

To a question about their common foe, Sitharaman said the BJP and Anna were against Congress because of corruption. As far as the bill was concerned, she said the BJP leaders had already discussed its provisions with team Anna.