The Lok Sabha has passed the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Act, 2019 today.
The amendment was moved by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah today in the Lok Sabha.
Rising to speak amidst a thunderous welcome, the Minister stated that the government will restore the original intent of the SPG that was created to protect the Prime Minister and his immediate family members.
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The amendment ensures the following:
1. that the SPG shall provide proximate security to the prime minister and members of his immediate family residing with him at his official residence for a period of five years and
2. to any former prime minister and members of his immediate family as are residing with him at the residence allotted to him, for a period of five years from the date he ceases to hold the office of prime minister.
3. SPG protection will not be available to those immediate family members not residing with the PM at his official residence.
The bill makes it clear that when the proximate security is withdrawn from a former prime minister, such proximate security shall also stand withdrawn from members of his or her immediate family.
This elite force was created to protect the PM and his immediate family members in the year 1985 on the recommendations of the Birbal Nath committee report. Subsequently, the parliament enacted a law in 1988.
Accusing the congress of diluting the law amending the act in 1991, 1994, 1999 and 2003 to benefit just ‘one family’, the Home Minister lashed out at the congress for compromising the safety and dignity of the office of the Prime Minister.
The previous amendments also ensured that the SPG protected former PM Rajiv Gandhi and his family even after retirement.
Shah pointed out that former PM’S Chandrashekar, PV Narasimha Rao and IK Gujaral amongst others were denied SPG protection after completing their tenure.
The opposition Congress called it an act of vendetta and accused the BJP of ‘Vendetta Politics’.
The government recently withdrew SPG protection to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Vadra and her family. They were given CRPF protection and categorised as Z+ security. Shah pointed that this was done based on the threat perception review and was apolitical in nature.
In accordance with the constitution, the bill will be transmitted to the Rajya Sabha for consideration, debate and passing.