Centre withdraws Lalu's Z+ NSG cover; he slams move as 'conspiracy'

Patna/New Delhi: The Centre has withdrawn Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'Z+' VIP security cover of NSG commandos, evoking an angry reaction from the RJD chief and his sons, who accused the NDA government of hatching a "conspiracy" to frighten him.

The former Bihar chief minister will now be given 'Z' category security and be guarded by an armed commando squad of the Central Reserve Police Force, by the protocol of the scaled down cover, official sources said.

Yadav will not have National Security Guard black cat commandos guarding him anymore as they were withdrawn on Sunday. The NSG only provides 'Z+' security cover.

The decision was taken after the Union home ministry recently reviewed the threat levels of various VIP protectees, the sources said.

Lalu Prasad accused the Narendra Modi government of hatching a "conspiracy" to frighten him so that he gives up his "relentless fight for preserving communal harmony and social justice".

The RJD chief, addressing a press conference here, said, "Lalu is not someone who can be frightened into submission.

The public of Bihar will protect me. But if anything happens to me then the Nitish Kumar government in the state and the Modi government at the Centre shall be jointly responsible".

His two sons -- Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav -- reacted angrily to the move.

The elder of the two brothers, Tej Pratap Yadav, went on to make derogatory remarks against the prime minister.

"If my father is killed who will take responsibility for this?" asked Tej Pratap, a former minister and an MLA.