PATNA: Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad has asked for Z plus security, a notch higher than the present Z category security he currently gets, because he fears a threat to his life.
In a letter to union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Lalu Prasad has also expressed concern about Z category security being withdrawn for his wife, former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi.
Sources close to Lalu Prasad, a shadow of his former self after the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) trounced the RJD in the assembly polls last month, said this was the first time that the leader had feared a threat to his life.
Lalu Prasad is currently provided Z category security, which is what politicians get except for President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and a few others.
He has asked for permission to drive right up to the tarmac at any airport in the country, a privilege meant only for chief ministers, governors and SPG protected leaders.
According to his aides, the minister said in his letter to Patil that threats to his life increased after he ordered a fresh inquiry into the Godhra train burning in Gujarat, which triggered the statewide riots in 2002.
"Lalu has demanded more security after intelligence reports warned of threats from communal forces," said an official.
In Bihar, the only leader getting Z category security is the new chief minister, Nitish Kumar. Rabri Devi gets police security as leader of the opposition on par with a cabinet minister.
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