NCP Chief Sharad Pawar recently commented on receiving Z+ security, saying it might be a way for the government to gather “authentic information” about him. On Wednesday, the central government provided Pawar with the highest level of security, Z+.
What Did Sharad Pawar Say About the Security?
Z+ security is the top-tier protection given to VIPs. When asked about his increased security, the 83-year-old politician told reporters in Navi Mumbai on Thursday that he isn’t sure about the reason behind this decision.
Pawar shared, “An officer from the Home Ministry informed me that the government has decided to give Z+ security to three people, and I am one of them. The other two are RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”
In a light-hearted tone, Pawar added, “Elections are coming up, so this could be a way to get authentic information about me.”
To provide this level of security, 55 armed personnel from the CRPF have been assigned to protect Pawar. The VIP security levels start with Z+ (the highest), followed by Z, Y+, Y, and X categories.
Earlier, official sources mentioned that central agencies had recommended strong security for Pawar after conducting a threat assessment review. Pawar’s NCP is part of the opposition alliance, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which also includes Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress. This alliance performed well in the last Lok Sabha elections, winning 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra.
In contrast, the ruling coalition of BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP only managed to secure 17 seats. The Maharashtra Assembly elections, which consist of 288 seats, are likely to be held in October-November.
