No Ex-CM Will Get Security or Govt Accommodation: Assam CM Himanta Biswa

GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that starting from him no former CM will be entitled to Govt accommodation and security.

However, CM Himanta said that if there is a life threat to the former chief minister the security review committee will provide the same.

Further, the Chief Minister added that the number of cars in his cavalcade was to be reduced drastically.

Addressing a press conference after the year's first Cabinet meeting here, Sarma said, "We have decided to have a new policy for deployment of PSOs in the state. Except for those in constitutional posts or in positions which require security cover, there will be screened by a security review committee for allotting PSOs."

PSOs are assigned to individuals, politicians and government officials whose lives are under threat.

"PSOs cannot become a status symbol. Security needs will be categorised and depending on the requirement, the PSOs will be allotted," he said.

The chief minister had recently spoken out against the allotment of PSOs, terming it a 'Congress culture' and maintained that BJP leaders don't need such security cover as they have not indulged in wrongdoings or harmed anyone. The state Congress had then dared Sarma to surrender his own security cover.

Currently, four battalions of the Assam Police, numbering 4,240 personnel, are engaged as PSOs, with half of them allotted for the security of politicians, Sarma said.

"We want to bring this figure of over 4,000 PSOs to at least half now. Gradually, with permanent peace in the state, PSOs won't be required at all," he said.

The number of vehicles in the CM's convoy in Guwahati will be brought down to seven or eight from the current 22, he said.

"The police must ensure a secured city for not just the chief minister, but all citizens. We want to reach a situation where the CM will be able to move in the city without any security," Sarma added.

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