I don't need any Z-level security: Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: The coming to power of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi could have a collateral benefit for Delhi Police, with top officials expecting nearly 500 personnel to be relieved of VIP security duties as chief minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal and 27 AAP legislators have said that they don’t need protection.

Kejriwal was the first to write to Delhi Police on Monday that he doesn’t need a pilot car, escort vehicles or personal security officers (PSOs), all of which are part of the Z-level security detail of the chief minister of Delhi. All AAP legislators, many of whom will be ministers in the state government, will follow suit. “God is my biggest security. I don’t need any escort or PSO,” Kejriwal wrote to Delhi Police.

This will be a welcome relief for Delhi Police, which has more personnel deployed on VIP security duties than any other state in the country. According to the Union home ministry, nearly 7,300 Delhi Police personnel are on VIP security duty for nearly 460 VIPs in the national capital, at an annual cost of nearly Rs 300 crore. Delhi Police is under the administrative control of the Union home ministry.

“If none of the AAP legislators and ministers accept security, nearly 500 men could be relieved of VIP security duties. The Supreme Court had earlier this year asked Delhi Police to divert cops on VIP security duties to law and order functions for safety of women,” a home ministry official said. An official vehicle with a police driver will however be provided to AAP legislators. Kejriwal’s new residence in Delhi will get modest police cover.

Earlier, P Chidambaram had declined Z-plus security cover that’s part of the protocol for the Union home minister, which he was at the time, and opted for a single PSO and no escort or pilot car. A ministry official explained that the security offered to a particular person or his family members depended on the protocol associated with a minister or a legislator and the threat perception.

“For the level of security provided by the Delhi Police, its special branch takes a call based on threat perception on IB inputs. If the cover is to be provided by a central force like CRPF or CISF, a home secretary-led committee decides,” the official said. Additional commissioner of Delhi (security) V Renganathan had written to Kejriwal that Delhi Police will need to give him Z category security as per the norm for the state’s chief minister. In his reply, Kejriwal wrote: “Thank you for offering me security. But as I have already informed earlier, I don’t need any security, I don’t need any escort or PSO. God is my biggest security.”