The Government on Tuesday said the “smallest deployment” of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) cover to the food park of Ramdev, and other private institutions, have been provided on the basis of threat perception and not as a “favour” extended to anyone.
The Government also informed the house that while the current sanctioned strength of the CISF was 1.45 lakh, a Cabinet note has been moved to increasing the ceiling to 2 lakh personnel.
Replying in lok Sabha, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju insisted that the cover by the CISF was not extended as a “favour” to anyone. The security cover for Yoga Guru was “the smallest deployment” and done according to the laid down procedures.
He said the CISF cover to private establishment is carried out after following the standard rules including inputs from the Intelligence Bureau.
In 2014-15, the CISF cover was provided to Coastal Gujarat Power ltd at Mundra and Tata Steel at Kalinganagar in Odisha and in 2015-16 to Patanjali food and herbal park, Haridwar. The cover was extended based on “threat perception, as assessed by the agencies,” the minister said.
Rijiju also rejected suggestions that due to lack of manpower, certain ‘hyper-sensitive’ and ‘sensitive’ airports have not been extended CISF cover.
He said the due procedure is followed before giving such establishments central cover. Other central armed police forces like CRPF also protect installations like airports and the Srinagar airport was one such instance.
The Minister said the Government has considered the recommendations of a Parliamentary Standing Committee and steps have been taken about security cover to important installations.
In his written response, he said at present no decision has been taken to withdraw CISF security from private establishments. CISF cover to private organisations was extended after the CISF Act was amended in 2009 following the 26/11 Mumbai terror strikes.