Mumbai, Jun 18 (PTI) Police have accorded ‘Y-Plus’ security cover to six ‘rebel’ Lok Sabha MPs of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in Maharashtra with immediate effect amid threats issued by a section of party leaders and workers over their alleged attempt to switch sides.
The Y-Plus category is a security detail of 11 personnel.
A letter signed by Shirish Jain, Commissioner of Intelligence, Maharashtra (SID), said enhanced security has been provided to MPs Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai-Northeast), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi), Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli) and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar (Osmanabad).
Accordingly, Y-Plus security should be provided to these parliamentarians with immediate effect, said the letter dated June 17.
The direction to provide Y-Plus security to the dissident MPs comes amid protests by party workers in their respective constituencies, threatening the Lok Sabha members with dire consequences if they switched sides.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut posted on X another letter of the Mumbai Police, signed by Pravin Mundhe, Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Branch), asking zonal deputy commissioner of police to exercise caution in view of the possibility of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs entering the ruling Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Raut said the enhanced police protection to the dissident MPs was due to the fear of “Operation Tudva” (Operation Bash up).
On Thursday, the Sena (UBT) leader issued a warning, saying the party will begin ‘Operation Tudwa’ (bash up) against the dissident MPs.
These half a dozen MPs did not attend a crucial parliamentary party meeting of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party in New Delhi on Thursday, indicating a formal breach in the party’s Lok Sabha unit. The Opposition party has nine Lok Sabha MPs.
Raut, the lone Rajya Sabha MP of the Sena (UBT), lashed out at the absentee MPs, saying the “traitors” will need protection from the Indian Air Force to save themselves from the wrath of Shiv Sainiks.
A local Sena (UBT) leader in Washim on Wednesday warned Sanjay Deshmukh that he would not be allowed to return to his Lok Sabha constituency and his car would be set on fire if he switched loyalties without resigning as an MP first.
Party workers in Dharashiv warned cow dung would be smeared on the faces of those who leave the Sena (UBT), and they would not be allowed to move freely in the constituency. PTI PR KRK NR RSY
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