CHENNAI, JAN 10
The central government has withdrawn the security cover provided to the Deputy Chief Minister and AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam and DMK president M K Stalin, sources in the Union Home Ministry confirmed on Thursday.
Panneerselvam had a smaller ‘Y+’ cover of central paramilitary commandos, Stalin enjoyed a larger ‘Z+’ protection.
The move came after a threat assessment review was made by central security agencies and approved by the Home Ministry, officials said. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandos were protecting the two leaders. The central security cover will be formally taken off after the state police takes over their security task, they added.
Sources said the deputy CM was aware of a communication sent by the CRPF about withdrawal of security cover.
OPS got VIP cover after ‘dharmayudh’
There is a communication to this effect. “The security provided to the deputy CM will be withdrawn with effect from January 10,” said a source. The BJP government provided Panneerselvam with Y+ category security cover since April 2017, when he began his ‘dharmyayudh’ against the V K Sasikala clan.
Kanimozhi condemns withdrawal of special security cover to Stalin
As for Stalin, a senior DMK party man said, “Our leader is in Andamans to participate in party functions. The team of CRPF security personnel has accompanied him.” Stalin was provided Z+ security after an attempted attack on him in Madurai railway station in the year 2006 when his father M Karunanidhi was chief minister. “This was when Stalin was the local administration minister and he visited Madurai. When he was in the railway station, a person tried to stab him,” said the DMK functionary. Subsequently, it was the UPA government of which the DMK was a constituent that provided Stalin Z+ security. In a tweet on Thursday evening, DMK MP Kanimozhi condemned the Centre’s decision to withdraw Z+ security cover for her brother and party president M.K. Stalin.
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