Centre uncovers Ex-PM Manmohan Singh of SPG security, Z+ security to remain

New Delhi : The Centre on Monday withdrew SPG Security cover of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he will continue to have Z+ security, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decided.

"The current security cover review is a periodical and professional exercise based on threat perception that is purely based on the professional assessment by security agencies. Dr Manmohan Singh continues to have a Z+ security cover," said MHA.

Some media reports quoted sources as saying that Manmohan Singh's security cover has been removed under annual exercise to review SPG cover, which is given to the country’s most protected politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.

In a similar manner, the security cover provided to ex Prime Ministers HD Deve Gowda and VP Singh was also withdrawn.

A couple of months ago, the Centre reduced the number of staff provided to the former prime minister. Sources said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) had turned down a request from Dr Singh for retaining his 14-member staff.