NEW DELHI: 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, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said today.
Ramdev’s food park in Haridwar has the “smallest deployment” of CISF personnel, he said during Question Hour in Lok Sabha.
Replying to supplementaries, the minister insisted that the cover by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was not extended as a “favour” to anyone.
A laid down procedure is followed, including inputs from the Intelligence Bureau, before extending the central paramilitary cover to private establishments, he 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.
Rijiju said the government has considered the recommendations of a Parliamentary Standing Committee and steps have been taken about security cover to important installations.
The minister said 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. Besides, there are certain number of reserved battalions which are used based on requirement.
When pointed out that besides CISF, some private agencies were also involved in handling cargo security, he said efforts are on to streamline the security system at airport cargo terminals where CISF is the lead agency and any loophole will be plugged.(Agencies)
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