New Delhi:
Yogi Adityanath government has downgraded the security cover of several important Opposition leaders.
According to reports, the Uttar Pradesh government has downgraded the security cover of Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav, while completly stripping security covers of over 100 other leaders.
However, the Adityanath Government has kept the security cover of SP chief and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati, sources confirmed.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Vinay Katiyar has been provided Z-degree security cover. Adityanath's security has also been increased following inputs of a terror threat to him.
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The decision was taken late on Saturday, said reports, following a meeting of UP Principal Secretary (Home), ADG Intelligence, ADG Security and new UP DGP Sulkhan Singh. The order came into effect immediately.
Among those who totally lost their security is BSP national general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Satish Chandra Mishra.
Former state chief secretary Alok Ranjan and two SP MLCs, Ashu Malik and Atul Pradhan, have also lost their security, said reports.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier said that ‘those who are enjoying security cover for the sake of status symbol should be prepared to part with them'.
The move comes as a further step in the BJP government’s move to do away with VIP culture, after a Modi government order to remove red beacons from vehicles of VIPs.
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