When political bigwigs decide to dump their plush cars and walk the distance to Vidhan Bhavan, you know the terror issue is being taken seriously.
Starting Thursday, the police banned the entry of vehicles into the
Vidhan Bhavan premises over security reasons. And, no one was exempt. Not even the chief minister.
So, all the big shots in state politics — the chief minister, his deputy, the leader of Opposition, speaker of legislative assembly and chairman of legislative council - had to abandoned their vehicles at the gate and walk into the premises on the first day of the budget session.
The security at Vidhan Bhavan was tightened after intelligence warnings of a terror attack. The government has also banned delegations from meeting ministers at Vidhan Bhavan. A tent has been set up outside the premises for them.
The number of people accompanying ministers and MLAs has been restricted to two. “The arrangement has been made because of intelligence inputs that Vidhan Bhavan is a terror target,” said deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
The move has not gone down well with some members. Shiv Sena’s Diwakar Raote asked why MLAs’ vehicles were denied entry. NCP’s Gurunath Kulkarni also complained that imposing restrictions on elected members was a bad idea.
Deputy speaker Vasant Davkhare explained that security had been tightened.
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