The SPG security cover that Manmohan Singh lost today after a home ministry-led review is supposed to be extended to a former Prime Minister 'for a period of ten years' from the date on which she or he ceased to hold the office.
Singh ceased to be the Prime Minister in 2014, and according to the SPG Act of 1998, the security cover should have ideally stayed till 2024. According to the SPG Act, such cover can be extended beyond 10 years after assessment of the level of threat every year.
After Indira Gandhi’s assassination, the Birbal Nath Committee recommended that a special protection unit should be given charge of protecting Prime Ministers. This led to the formation of SPG on April 8, 1988.
The SPG cover to Rajiv Gandhi was withdrawn by V.P. Singh government after he ceased to be the Prime Minister. After his assassination, the Act was amended to include former Prime Ministers under SPG cover. In 1999, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government reviewed SPG cover and withdrew protection to former Prime Ministers P.V. Narasimha Rao, H.D. Deve Gowda, and I.K. Gujral.
SPG cover means round-the-clock security by men in dark safari suits who are trained to protect VIPs. How many SPG personnel will guard a VIP varies according to the individual and geographical location.
The armed unit has recruits from police and the central forces. The cover also includes bullet-proof cars.
After Singh’s security was downgraded to Z-plus category today, four VIPs remain with SPG cover – Narendra Modi, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul and daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who are also Congress leaders.
The Z-plus security detail has two specifications - one with elite National Security Guard (NSG) commandos and central armed police force (CAPF) personnel, the other only with CAPF.
The size of the security cover under Z-plus also varies from person to person and the location they are deployed in. It is one step lower than SPG cover.
The threat perception to VIPs are assessed every year by a security committee of the home ministry with inputs from the Intelligence Bureau and other agencies.
In July, the security detail of 350 VIPs was reviewed and the cover given to several politicians across party lines, including former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and former BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha downgraded.