From Jal Khambata

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani on Thursday
announced withdrawal of the black dress that makes the National
Security Guard (NSG) commandos conspicuous while on the VIP
security duty.

He also announced that the NSG commandos would be gradually
withdrawn from the VIP duty as the crack force was raised as an
anti-terrorist force to deal with insurgency and not to provide
a "status symbol" to the VIPs.

Advani said while delivering the keynote address at the 15th
raising day ceremony of the Special Protection Group (SPG).

He asked NSG chief Nikhil Kumar present at the function to
immediately change the black outfit of the NSG guards put on VIP
duty to any dress that can hide their identity.

He praised in this regard the safari suit aptly adopted by the
SPG, another crack force set up after Indira Gandhi's
assassination to protect the Prime Minister, ex-Prime Ministers
and their families.

Advani regretted that the political status of an individual
depends on the category of security he or she enjoys. A
politician is successful by virtue of his accessibility to the
largest number of people, "but it was no more so because of the
craze for a high profile security," he said.

The Home Minister said a special team in his Ministry was
continually reviewing the threat perceptions to individuals and
on the basis of this review, the security of some politicians
and officer has been already downsized. The exercise is still on
to withdraw security given to others, he said.

He said the special team has suggested that the personal
security should not be miscontrued as the VIP security. He said
there were also reports that the people acquiring the security
were making security personnel carry out odd jobs for them.

Advani regretted that the extraordinary security was provided to
politicians at the cost of the security to commonman. He cited
how as many as 5000 personnel from the 55,000-strong Delhi
Police were engaged for personal security of politicians and
officers. END.
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