Surjewala writes to Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday sought the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security cover for party leader and Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. Surjewala wrote to Home Minister Rajnath Singh over the issue and cited ‘growing threat perception to his life’.
Surjewala claimed marked escalation in threats to Sidhu since he left the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and joined the Congress.
“As a result of his highly visible profile and political campaign, he has always been a high-risk target. However, there has been a marked escalation in these threats since S. Sidhu left the BJP and joined the Indian National Congress,” Surjewala wrote in his letter to the home minister.
Surjewala writes to Rajnath Singh Surjewala writes to home minister
He also said that Sidhu has been travelling extensively throughout the country for campaining and electioneering and though adequate security was being provided to him within Punjab, the state police personnel can't be assigned the responsibility of security in the rest of the country.
The Congress leader requested Singh to provide Sidhu the cover bereft of political differences and rivalries.
“While the State of Punjab has provided him with adequate security, Punjab Police personnel cannot be assigned the responsibility of security in rest of India,” he said.
Surjewala highlighted that Sidhu's security cover was withdrawn by the SAD-BJP government in 2014 and was later reinstated after protest.
