Jaya's security on par with CM: Minister

Chennai, May 26 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government has provided security to Former Chief Minister and AIADMK Supremo J Jayalalithaa on par with incumbent M Karunanidhi, State Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy told the Assembly today.

Intervening in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, he said when Ms Jayalalithaa was the Chief Minister, 352 personnel were providing security cover to her.

However, when Mr Karunanidhi took over as Chief Minister, he scaled down the number to 55, saying he did not want to waste people's tax money on his security.

Ms Jayalalithaa had also been provided with 55 security personnel on par with the security cover given to the present Chief Minister, he added.

Mr Veerasamy said during the previous AIADMK regime, Mr Karunanidhi was provided security only by the Centre's National Security Guards, while the state provided only four policemen.

Intervening, Deputy Leader of the Opposition K A Sengottaiyan said both the leaders could not be equated as they had different security concerns.

He said the Union Home Ministry itself had warned of security threat to Ms Jayalalithaa from terrorists and militant outfits like the LTTE following her stern action against them.

Mr Karunanidhi had no such threat and it was wrong to equate the security concerns of both leaders, he said.

Earlier, speaking on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, Mr S V Shanmugam (AIADMK) said immediately after the DMK Government came to power, a press reporter was assaulted and Ms Jayalalithaa's security cover withdrawn.

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