VIP security to BJP MLAs in Bengal: Unprecedented step divides experts

Three retired IPS officers contacted by ETV Bharat differed with each other but admitted that the decision was unprecedented as never before central forces were asked to provide security cover to all MLAs of an opposition party in a state, writes ETV Bharat Deputy News Editor Krishnanand Tripathi.

New Delhi: The Union government’s decision to provide security to all BJP MLAs in the state of West Bengal in the wake of post-poll violence has sharply divided the top policing experts in the country.

Three retired IPS officers contacted by ETV Bharat differed with each other but admitted that the decision was unprecedented as never before central forces were asked to provide security cover to all MLAs of an opposition party in a state.

“I can't recall any precedent about security being given at such a large scale. It was given in individual cases. That is understandable but not on a large scale that 50-60 MLAs are being given security,” said retired Indian Police Service officer Prakash Singh, who was Director-General of Police of India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh.

Prakash Singh, who was also Director-General of the country’s border guarding force, the Border Security Force (BSF), says that usually the views of state intelligence agencies are also taken into consideration.

“Normally, they always seek the views of the state but there have been occasions when the Central government has deployed forces without the state asking for it. That is true, there is enough precedent for that,” Prakash Singh told ETV Bharat.

According to another retired IPS officer, who headed India’s largest paramilitary force, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), such security is generally given because of threat perceptions and intelligence reports.

“The procedure is that there may be some intelligence report or threat perception that these MLAs are in danger then the government has to provide security,” he told ETV Bharat while requesting not to be named.

The officer said that it was done in several instances in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and also in Punjab when the state was hit by insurgency.

“This is the first time that it happened like that. I don't know what is the background but it is given when there is a 'real threat',” he said adding that the threat intelligence basically comes from the local police as they are much more aware of such threats.

According to a PTI report, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Monday accorded ‘X’ category VIP security cover of the CISF to 61 BJP MLAs in West Bengal. The decision brings all 77 BJP MLAs under the protection of Central security forces as some of them were already protected by the Central forces.

Following the declaration of election results in West Bengal early this month, the state witnessed violence and arson against the members and supporters of opposition parties. The post-poll violence was severely criticised by the BJP, the largest opposition party in the state and also by the Congress and Left parties as their workers were also targeted.

A source in the Union government, who is familiar with the matter, told ETV Bharat that Central security is provided by following a certain procedure, which was also followed in this case.

The overreach of the Union government’s powers!

KS Subramanian, a retired Indian Police Service Officer and former Director-General of Police of the state of Tripura, strongly opposes the Centre’s decision to provide security to all BJP MLAs in West Bengal, saying that it is the misuse of the Central government’s power.

Subramanian, who also served in the Intelligence Bureau on deputation, said it is the job of the Bureau to assess the threat and provide security to VIPs.

“This is not the VIP security at all. You're providing personal security to those who do not deserve it from some other agency of the state government,” Subramanian told ETV Bharat.

The retired IPS officer says it was quite an absurd suggestion as all the 77 BJP MLAs can't be declared VIPs.

“It is a misuse of the power of the Central government. If the IB is powerful enough then they can reject the suggestion,” he observed.

“It is unprecedented and unheard of and totally unjustified. It is a misuse of the power of the central government and they (the Centre) are giving it in the most irresponsible fashion,” added the retired officer.

Political bias behind the decision?

Mathew Idiculla, a Bengaluru based lawyer and a research consultant with the Centre for Law and Policy Research, also feels that there could be a bias in the decision making process as the BJP, which is in opposition in West Bengal, rules the Centre.

“When it comes to the central security, be it CISF, SPG or Z category, the determination is done purely by the Union government. Even for the opposition leaders, the threat analysis is done by the Union government,” said Mathew Idiculla.

He says in this case, where the decision making authority is the Union government with very little or no input from the State authorities, then the chances of political bias cannot be ruled out.

“The BJP is the ruling party in many states and you don't find that opposition MLAs in those states are being provided any form of security,” Mathew Idiculla told ETV Bharat.

“In this case, the BJP is in opposition in the state and the party is in power in the Centre so they have used it in a definite way. Hundred per cent it is their discretion,” noted the Bengaluru based lawyer.

Bengal’s post-poll violence a cause of concern

Prakash Singh, who is a leading voice on the issues related to policing and police reforms in the country, also criticised the Mamata Banerjee government for its failure to curb the post-poll violence in the state.

‘Why should MLAs be given security? More important is that the government (the Centre) should ensure, through law and order is a state subject, the Centre should apply so much pressure on the state government that they should give security to the common man,” he told ETV Bharat.

Singh says it is very strange that Trinamool Congresspeople are selectively targeting the people who voted for BJP as this kind of thing never happened in any other state.

“All kinds of people are voting for different parties but once the results are declared you tolerate those who voted against you,” explained the former IPS officer.

Mathew Idiculla also says that post-poll violence is common in West Bengal.

“You can definitely not compare that with any other states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam or Pudducherry. Obviously, we didn't see that kind of political violence in any of these states,” Mr Idiculla told ETV Bharat.