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As many as 266 persons with criminal backgrounds, including at least half-a-dozen ministers, 12 MPs, 70 legislators, 10 former MPs and 20 former legislators, have been enjoying official security cover in Uttar Pradesh. The charges against them include murder, dacoity, rape, loot and assault.
Though the state home department had mooted the idea of providing security against payment in a bid to rectify matters, the state cabinet worked out a scheme that eventually allowed the 'netas' to have their way.
On April 19, the state cabinet decided to limit the number of security personnel assigned to MPs, legislators and other VIPs to just one. However, it also allowed additional security on payment of nominal sums to the exchequer.
Home department officials said the rule was meaningless as the subsidy component constituted 75% to 90% of the total cost on security. The monthly emoluments of a constable or sub-inspector works out to between Rs 8000-Rs 11000 per month, which means the money paid by the protected person is negligible as the travel expenses, dearness allowance would still be borne by the exchequer.
Often, the monthly travel allowance of these cops far exceeded their respective monthly salaries, pointed out a senior IAS officer in the home department.
Secondly, though these cops were provided with food and shelter by the VIPs or the department hosting the VIPs, they continue to claim their daily allowance, the officer said.
About 9000 policemen are employed on 'VIP security' duty, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.10 billion to the exchequer.
Therefore, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Raj Nath Singh's order to impose curbs on security expenditure appears to be only an eyewash.
VIPs were least bothered about the rider of a formal approval by the local district authorities justifying the requirement of security cover.
"This has become an annual ritual over the past few years. Every chief minister makes hollow promises to cut down on VIP security with special emphasis on politicians with criminal background," remarked R N Srivastava, a retired government official.
Within a week of the cabinet's decision, the chief minister himself made an exception for a BJP leader, who is facing at least two dozen criminal cases.
Senior home department officials were of the view that demanding full payment for the security cover would discourage at 75% of those availing the facility.
However, there is some respite for the home department as the government has withdrawn all the AK-47 wielding policemen attached to select VIPs.
"While policemen dealing with militants and large scale poaching in the state's forests had to do with outdated .303 rifles, the 'netas' were flaunting their AK-47 wielding security personnel," remarked an official. "Now these assault rifles can be put to some good use," he added.
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