Amarinder rejects Bajwa’s claim on security withdrawal

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday rejected Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa’s charges of vindictiveness in the withdrawal of his police cover by the Punjab government, saying it was a routine exercise based on a periodic review of his threat assessment.

“My government would never deny security to any person genuinely in need. But we cannot afford to spare police personnel unnecessarily, particularly when the force is facing severe constraints and stress amid the Covid-19 pandemic,” the CM said.

Bajwa’s attempt to link this review with his confrontation with the state government is inexplicable, he said.

The Congress government was providing security to the Badals in view of the specific threat inputs as per the assessment carried out by central and state governments, the chief minister said.

“High threat perception to the Badals necessitated Punjab Police cover in addition to their Z plus security provided by the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA),” he said.

But Bajwa’s complaint on this account was frivolous and not based on facts, he added.

“With Punjab Police intelligence inputs showing he does not face any specific terrorist or militant threat, Bajwa was only entitled to security cover of an

› With Punjab Police intelligence inputs showing he does not face any specific terrorist or militant threat, Bajwa is only entitled to security cover of an MP as per the state policy.

CAPT AMARINDER SINGH , chief minister

MP as provided in the policy approved by the state cabinet in 2013,” he added.

“Nevertheless, he continued to have a security detail of 14 personnel, with one escort vehicle with a driver as on March when some of the guards were withdrawn for Covid duty,” he added.

The government cannot oblige Bajwa in this matter given the fact that the police is handing different kinds of security and other challenges as a border state, the chief minister claimed.