NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar has expressed surprise over the NDA govt 's decision to accord the highest security cover—Z-plus—to him. Pawar felt that it appears to be an arrangement for securing authentic information on him in view of the upcoming assembly elections. Following the NDA govt's decision, 55 CRPF personnel will now guard Pawar round the clock.
A week ago, a team of officials of the central govt had informed him about allocation of Z-plus security cover for him, along with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union home minister Amit Shah. The NDA govt's decision drew stringent criticism from members of BJP and Shiv Sena. In fact, a BJP legislator observed that there was absolutely no need of a special security cover for Pawar as there was no threat to him.
The state govt had provided Pawar with the same security cover. On Jan 8, 2021, the state intelligence commissioner issued an order to provide categorised cover for 26 politicians and prominent persons. As per the order, Along with then governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, then CM Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar and Lt Gen K S Brar were provided Z-plus security.
In the same order, it was recommended to downsize the security of Devendra Fadnavis from Z-plus to Y-plus, with escort. Fadnavis was given Z-plus security when he was the CM, but when he lost the post and took over as leader of the opposition, his cover was reduced. Now, in his capacity as deputy CM, he has Z-plus security cover, along with CM Eknath Shinde.
A former DGP said in the recent past, security cover has emerged as a status symbol, and said Fadnavis must review it in a real sense so that additional manpower can be made available for tackling law and order situations. Intelligence failure Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has raised questions over the visibility and accessibility of high-ranking police officials during the Aug 20 protests over the Badlapur abuse. He felt senior officials were missing in action and lower-rung personnel were left to tackle the situation.
Prime facie, it appears that Thane police failed to gauge the situation. While protesting parents left the school after a morning dharna, police did not anticipate that more than 3,000 people would reachBadlapur station to launch a massive agitation. There was complete intelligence failure—agencies failed to realise the possibility of a violent agitation at the station and that the mob would resort to stone-pelting.
There appears to be some substance in what Thackeray said. Barring a few, most police commissioners and SPs could not be reached during the crisis and securing authentic information was a challenging task..
