SPG cover to Mayawati: UP sends reminder to Centre

Lucknow, Jan 10 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh today sent a reminder to the Congress led-United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre for providing Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover to Chief Minister Mayawati, following a threat to her life.

''We have sent a reminder to the Centre for SPG cover to the CM,'' said state Principal Secretary (home) J N Chamber here this evening.

Mr Chamber informed that the state government had stated all specific reasons to the Centre for the SPG cover, along with the Intelligence input regarding constant threat to the CM's life.

Asked, if the UP police was incapable to provide security to Mayawati, the official said that SPG is a specialised security force, set up by the Act of the Constitution. ''SPG has special powers and can provide foolproof security in the entire country,'' he added.

''As the CM frequently visits other parts of the country, it is necessary that she gets the SPG security,'' he underlined.

Earlier, the UP government had requested the Centre last week to provide SPG security to Mayawati.

Mr Chamber said 3073 Samajwadi Party (SP) activists had been detained in different parts of the state during their day-long demonstration against implementation of Value Aadded Tax (VAT) in UP.

He said the agitation was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

UNI MB ATI RSA KN1905