The Centre had earlier withdrawn SPG security cover for Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. (file)The CRPF has written to states and UTs about the new protocols for Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her family members security and will soon seek sanctions to raise at least one more battalion for the task, officials said on Tuesday.
The central government earlier this month replaced the Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover given to Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra by the ‘Z-plus' security of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The paramilitary force will also seek sanctions to procure specialised armoured vehicles in the light of these high-profile persons, along with former prime minister Manmohan Singh, being sent under its security cover, the officials said.
The CRPF, through the Union home ministry, has written to state and union territory governments about the new protocols that came into force after the Centre's decision, they said.
It has also informed states and UTs that the Gandhi family has been accorded an advance security liaison (ASL) protocol and this will require the “support” of their intelligence, police and administrative machinery prior to any of the five new protectees — Sonia Gandhi,
Rahul, Priyanka, Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur — reaching their jurisdictions on official or personal tours. The Singhs' SPG cover was…
