The Centre on Thursday upgraded the security of West Bengal BJP unit president Dilip Ghosh on the basis of a serious threat to his life. Ghosh will also shift his residence from the Salt Lake area of Kolkata.
Speaking exclusively to THE WEEK, Ghosh, the MP from Midnapore, said, "Yes, there is a threat perception. The Central intelligence has reported to the Central government and they initiated upgradation."
Ghosh used to get Y-category security and now he would get Z-category security. Around 25 people enjoy the Z-category security in the entire country.
Ghosh, who is increasingly being perceived as the BJP's chief ministerial candidate for the 2021 Assembly election, had been attacked several times in the past. Ghosh was attacked in Darjeeling, Cooch Behar, Midnapore and other places of West Bengal. There were approximately 23 attacks against Ghosh that were carried out by alleged political opponents and even anti-social elements, said a source in the West Bengal intelligence branch.
"We had also reported the matter to state government," said a state intelligence branch officer. However, the state government did not initiate any upgradation of security for Ghosh.
As a prominent opposition member in the Assembly, Ghosh used to get a single security officer to accompany him. He was provided the state-level 'X category' security. As the Lok Sabha election was getting closer, the Union home ministry last year gave Central security to Ghosh under Y-category security level after a series of attacks on him. Ghosh had two CRPF jawans posted at his home along with a principle staff officer.
Now, Ghosh would be under the total security cover by the Central armed police forces. He would also get an escort car, like very few national leaders and chief ministers get.
BJP insiders said that Ghosh had a habit of breaching his security cordon and he preferred to hold the party meetings without presence of security staffers.
"The upgradation was due few months back even when then home minister Rajnath Singh personally raised this issue with the prime minister after getting report of the threat perception on Dilip da. But Dilip da refused by saying that he did not have a house to accommodate the security staffers," said a senior BJP member.
also read
- CBI files first FIR in Sandeshkhali case against 5 for land grab, sexual assault
- Protestors elated over HC verdict in SSC recruitment scam as govt set to appeal
- Recruitment scam: Calcutta HC declares 2016 test null and void, orders teachers to return salaries
- CPI(M)’s transition from once protesting against computers to using AI Samata
- Mamata calls Congress, CPI(M) ‘BJP agents’ in Bengal; urges voters to not back them
This time, the BJP has decided to shift him to a new location, so that Ghosh could accommodate the additional security personnel at his house.
There is a huge political connotation in it, according to political observers.
"Ghosh has now become undisputed leader of the BJP in Bengal. Undoubtedly, he would be the chief minister in the situation of the BJP defeating TMC in the 2021 election. Such strengthening of security is part of that," said a senior BJP leader of West Bengal.
