Atishi’s security cover must be scaled to ‘y’Category

Attichi, head of the opposition in the Delhi Parliament. |Photo source: PTI

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed the Delhi police to reduce armed security cover for former Chief Minister and leaders of the Opposition (LOP) Atishi after review. AAP leaders were offered “Z” category security after they became Chief Minister in 2024.

The move comes after the security department of the Delhi Police Department seeks guidance from the MHA on the security status of Atishi. After reviewing the threat perceptions of Kalkagi MLA, the MHA concluded that there is no obvious threat to guarantee the continuation of security in the “Z” category, an official said.

The security department of the Delhi Police had earlier marked the security status of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who has now offered the “Z-Plus” category.

The security of politicians is granted in accordance with a threat assessment conducted by the CIA to the MHA order.

“Although the ministry initially advised against making any changes to the security arrangements for Mr. Kejriwal and Ms. Atishi, the official said: “Delhi police later directed the demotion of Atishi’s cover to the “Y” category.”

Under the security protocol in the “Y” category, Ms. Attichi will now be subject to a team of about 12 personnel, including two commandos of the police.

This is also accompanied by the abolition of certain privileges, such as the pilot vehicle that Ms. Atishi accompanied when she briefly took office in the CM position.