From correspondents in Uttar Pradesh, India, 09:01 AM IST

Lucknow - The Uttar Pradesh government is spending millions of rupees to guard its dignitaries who perceive they are under threat from militant groups - and even their political rivals.

Be it Governor T.V. Rajeshwar, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, a host of his cabinet colleagues or scores of MPs and legislators, all seem to be obsessed with their personal security.

Ironically, some of them feel threatened by none other than their equally important political rivals, who in turn attribute their own security needs to their opponents. Still others like actor Jaya Prada claim their popularity poses a threat to them.

In the name of security, Rajeshwar went to the extent of getting the aesthetic boundary wall of Lucknow's 200-year-old Raj Bhavan pulled down and being replaced by a 10-foot wall. The reason: the previous 3.5-foot wall, with a taller steel net running along it, afforded a view of the majestic mansion to passers-by.

Yadav's two official bungalows were redone at a cost of more than Rs. 20 million 'to suit the revised security needs.' And now, a fleet of six Toyota Land Cruisers is on its way to ensure 'better security' for the chief minister during his travels.

A security review the government undertook earlier this month has recommended upgrading the security cover of several other dignitaries in the state.

The upgrading of Jaya Prada's security was sought on the ground that the Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha member had a large 'fan following'. The other reason cited was the threat from Maoists, 'since she hails from a Naxalite (Maoist)-infested part of Andhra Pradesh.'

Transport Minister Naresh Agarwal sought 'Z' category security on account of his 'increasing popularity' in his Hardoi constituency, some 100 km from here. Agarwal claimed the success of all his nominees in the just concluded village body elections had antagonized his political rivals.

'He, therefore, deserves 'Z' security cover,' the review report added.

Chief Minister Yadav has been generous not only to leaders of his own Samajwadi Party. Leaders of rival political parties who are close to him have been equal beneficiaries of his security largesse.

Topping the list is the Congress' Akhilesh Das, appointed earlier this year as minister of state for steel in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's council of ministers.

Das sought enhancement of his security cover from 'Y' to 'Z' on the ground his 'rivalry with political opponents had increased because of his having issued strong public statements against them'.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Lalji Tandon, leader of the opposition in the state assembly, has been elevated to the 'Z' level due to a 'threat' from the Kashmiri militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Among other BJP leaders who have managed to get the same high security cover are state BJP chief Keshri Nath Tripathi and his predecessors Vinay Katiyar, Kalraj Misra and Om Prakash Singh.

Then, young Congress MP from Shahjahanpur Jitin Prasad stepped into the 'Y' category on the plea that he 'was required to take frequent trips to his constituency, where he felt threatened from his rivals'.

Even now forgotten former chief minister (during the Janata Party days 1977-80) Ram Naresh Yadav has got himself upgraded to 'Z' cover.

The most interesting case perhaps is of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Pramod Tiwari and Congress MP from Pratapgarh Ratna Singh. They got 'Z' and 'Y' level cover respectively 'because of threats' from state Food and Civil Supplies Minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh, better known as Raja Bhaiya. Ironically, the latter's demand for 'Z' security cover was justified on account of the perceived 'threat' from Pramod Tiwari and Ratna Singh.

Asked to comment, a senior police offer remarked, on condition of anonymity: 'I am sure most of these leaders have no valid reason or adequate justification to be availing themselves of such high security. If a review were to be made on merit, many of them would lose the cover.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)