Sangh Pariwar criticises Sanjay's red carpet welcome to Vaishno Devi

Jammu, Sep 3 (UNI) The Saffron Brigade today strongly criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Police step to extend a 'red carpet welcome' to Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt during his visit to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, yesterday.

All three leading organisations of the Sangh Pariwar, the Bharatiya Janata Party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have condemned the Ghulam Nabi Azad government in providing red beacon official car to Sanjay Dutt.

In a statement BJP Jammu and Kashmir unit chief Ashok Khajuria expressed surprise over government decision in providing red carpet welcome to a convict in the mumbai blasts case in which 257 people lost their lives.

''Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who is also Home Minister, will have to answer about security arrangement provided to Sanjay Duatt and his girl friend,'' the BJP chief said.

Bajrang Dal national president Pakash Sharma said the serial blasts in Mumbai was a terrorist - design and how could the police allow him VIP treatment.

Out on bail, Dutt was provided an Ambassador car with beacon on arrival at the airport. The actor was here with 'girlfriend' Maanyata and three others on way to Vaishno Devi.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Security) A S Bali, however, said Police have to provide security to the star as Sanjay Dutt comes from a protected family.

''His late father Sunil Dutt was an MP and his sister Priya Dutt is a sitting Congress Member of Parliament from Mumbai North-West," SSP said.

It was the VIP ambassador car which the authorities are finding hardto justify, sources said even as police claim they were under the impression that MP Priya Dutt was accompanying her brother on the trip and she was entitled to the red beacon.

''The car was sent as we had been informed that Priya Dutt was arriving here for darshan at the Vaishno Devi shrine. We don't know whether she came or not," the SSP said.

However, the JK hospitality and protocol department claimed it had no knowledge of the 'red carpet welcome' extended to the actor who was recently convicted and given six years by the Special TADA Court hearing the Mumbai blasts case.

The SSP, PCR, Jammu, Shakeel Beigh, also defended the escort provided to Sanjay, saying they had no choice given the threat perception regarding the family.

"Tomorrow if we arrest Dawood Ibrahim, our biggest enemy, there will be one full company deployed for his protection," Beigh noted.

Ashok Sharma SP Katra who provided special security to Sanjay Dutt from Katra (Ban Ganga) to Bhawan (Vaishno Devi) during his trekking also defended polic step to provide security to a convicted man in a terrorist case.

Some security personnel including a prison guard were suspended for hugging the actor when he was released on bail from a Pune prison last week.

UNI