The Punjab government has hired an American firm to provide security to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his aides in the US. The chief minister faces a threat to his life from militant groups. He is flying to New York early Thursday for the medical treatment of his wife,who has cancer. Senior officials said the security firm,Global Security,hired by the government through the Indian embassy in the US,will initially charge $40,000 approximately Rs 18.25 lakh for 15 days of the CMs stay. The CM and his wife Surinder Kaur Badal are being accompanied by their daughter Parneet Kaur,the wife of Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Kairon. Also in the CMs entourage are his special principal secretary K J S Cheema and another official of the CMO,the DSP (Security),a doctor,the CMs personal assistant Kala,and his wifes personal assistant Neelam. Global Security has put up CCTV cameras at the CMs rented apartment,and will depute two security personnel to guard him round the clock. The firm will send its final bill will after the CM is back in India. Badal has already visited the US thrice for between 10 and 15 days for his wifes treatment at a New York hospital. The trips have cost the Punjab government around Rs 35 lakh,officials said. The government had to bear the expenses because the US government declined to provide him security. This time too our request was turned down, said an official. On the earlier trips,the state police paid the bills for his security,and were later reimbursed by the government. The same system is being followed this time, the official added.
