While the state is ablaze with a series agitations and protests, the centre decided to withdraw the National Security Guard(NSG) security for former Chief Minister and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu. Not only him, in a recent decision taken by the Union government, the black cat commandos of the elite counter-terror force will be taken off from protection duties of 12 other high-risk VIPs. This action came close on the heels of a major VIP security cut and withdrawal of SPG cover for the members of Gandhi family. With a view to free about 450 commandos, the central government’s decision will now enhance the fighting components of the force that is spread across five hubs in the country.
Usually, a VIP with NSG security will be provided with 24 hours security with about 25 Black Cat commandos. Summing up, 450 commandos at service with 13 VIPs will now concentrate on their original charter of handling specific tasks of counter-terrorist and anti-hijack operations. Besides Chandrababu, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, ex-CMs Mayawati, Mulayam Singh, Parkash Singh Badal and Farooq Abdullah, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani will also have a cut in NSG security. Instead the government stated that it would provide them with the paramilitary forces for round the clock security.