Govt committed to provide security to Thackeray — Bhujbal

The review panel, comprising top officials of Maharashtra Government, decides scaling down, enhancing the security cover to VIPs from time to time and the government has no role whatsoever in the decision making, Bhujbal, who holds Home portfolio, said.

The committee’s decision would be followed by the Government, he added.

To a query whether police personnel employed for Thackeray’s security would be downsized, Bhujbal said, “I will not go into the statistics,” adding that the Government was committed to provide security cover to the Sena chief.

Sena MPs created furore in Lok Sabha on Thursday over the State Government’s reported move to scale down the security of their party chief. The security review panel of the State Government, headed by chief secretary Arun Bongirwar, had recommended cutting strength of Thackeray’s guards from 179 to 149.

To a query, Bhujbal said the DF government has already started preparations for the proposed visit of US President Bill Clinton to the metropolis.

“Though there is no confirmation on Clinton’s visit to Mumbai, we are preparing for his security and other related matters considering that he will come here,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

The State Government would like the US assistance in the fields of agriculture, power, infotech and food processing units and an expert committee was deliberating on the matter, Bhujbal added.

The senior NCP leader also denied reports in a section of media that he came under attack from his party colleagues at a recently held meeting, which was attended by party president Sharad Pawar.

To a query, Bhujbal said he was not being sidelined in the party or in the Government. There were reports that Bhujbal was under attack from within his party and government for his `style of functioning’.

He said Congress and NCP were working in close harmony and had unanimity on all issues of governance.