Murmu may file papers on Friday, gets Z+ cover
NEW DELHI: The Centre has accorded a Z+ security cover of CRPF commandos to the NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu, who is likely to file her nomination on June 24, officials said on Wednesday.
The armed squad took over the security of Murmu, 64, early Wednesday morning,a senior officer said.
BJP president J P Nadda announced the candidature of Murmu, a party leader from Odisha who served as Jharkhand governor, at a press conference Tuesday night following a meeting of the party’s parliamentary board, which included Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders.
Officials said soon after this announcement, the Union home ministry directed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to deploy its VIP protection team to take charge of Murmu’s security.
A threat perception security report generated by central security agencies for the NDA presidential candidate formed the basis for the home ministry’s decision, the officials said.
A detachment of about 14-16 personnel of the paramilitary force based in Odisha has taken over the task of providing the security cover to Murmu. They will be escorting her wherever she travels across the state and the country, the officials said.
The security personnel will also secure her home in Rairangpur in Odisha.
Murmu is expected to travel extensively over the next one month to meet legislators and leaders of various political parties to seek support for her candidature, the officials said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers and chief ministers, and key leaders of some other supporting parties like the Biju Janata Dal will join her during the nomination-filing as a show of support, the officials said, adding that the prime minister is expected to be the first proposer.