After renewed threats to his life, the Maharashtra Government on Friday beefed up security cover given to Anna Hazare further, even as the veteran social activist expressed his unhappiness over the increased security cover and said that threats received by him in the recent days did not bother him at all.
Currently, 78-year-old Hazare — based in Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district of western Maharashtra —enjoys "Z" category security.
Disclosing that Hazare's security cover had been enhanced, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said: "After the recent threats to Hazare, my department conducted a security audit. In addition to the Z security cover, we have provided Hazare two additional escorts, while the security at his office and residence has been further strengthened. Our Government wants to ensure that he is safe."
Talking to mediapersons in his native village Ralegan-Siddhi, Hazare expressed his dissatisfaction over the enhancement of security given to him. "I have so far received 7 to 8 threats. But I am not at all bothered about these threats. If someone gets some satisfaction in killing me, he can go ahead and do so. There is no need to increase my security. Since this morning, I have been unsuccessfully trying to call the Chief Minister to tell him that I do not need additional security. The Chief Minister has announced that I would be given Z plus security. I would like to tell him that the security I have currently been given is on a high side."
The State Government's keenness to enhance Hazare's security should be seen in the light of the fact that while renowned rationalist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead by two motor bicycle-borne assailants while he was talking a morning walk in Pune on August 20, 2013, veteran communist leader Govind Pansare was gunned down by two unidentified assailants in a similar manner while he was returning from a morning walk at Kolhapur on February 16, 2015.