PM esteems SPG for its role on "Raising Day"

Considerable skill is required today for the protection of political leaders in the democratic society particularly in the wake of their close proximity with the people, opined Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while addressing the “Raising Day of the Special Protection Group” (SPG) here on Monday.

The SPG has to encounter with twin responsibility from providing security to leaders to ensuring their accessibility to the general public, said Singh reminding number of important dignitaries have been considerably augmented which are at the verge of terrorist threats.

•   E-mail Article
•   Printer Friendly
•   Text-Size    

Countries all around the world is facing menace of terrorism today, which has raised its tentacles alarmingly in recent years. These days it has been out of the reach for any country to combat terrorism single-handedly. So the PM called upon the global community to unite against terrorists and devise measures to combat terrorism while reiterating his government’s assurance to take every measure to deal with such terrorist activity, which has been danger to peace and security.

Our government is committed to deal with such menace to peace and security, to political stability and economic progress, to social and communal harmony in our country,” said Manmohan Singh with firm determination to root the source of terrorism out.

In its journey of 23 years since 1985 when SPG was constituted as a committed, disciplined and highly trained outfit has emerged today as a chief and responsible protective security organisation.

The Prime Minister esteemed the SPG and committed to provide each and every possible assistance on its proposal to enhance its capability and equipping itself to deal with threats from Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear agents, and its commitment to emerge formidable as a “Bomb Disposal Squad.”

The SPG

The Special Protection Group was set up on April 8 1985 with an elaborate exercise to provide protection to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, in view of the threats to his life from several sources.

The assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 led to the amendment in SPG Act with a clause to provide security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate families for a period of 5 years after it ceases to hold office. In SPG’s original Act it was excluded from providing security to former prime ministers and their immediate families.

Prior to 1981 the security of the Prime Minister at his/her residence and offices was entrusted to Special Security District of Delhi Police under the charge of DCP.

The assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984 has necessitated handing over the security of prime ministers to Special Group to provide immediate security cover both in New Delhi and outside.

Meeting on Climate Change

The closing day of the financial year saw the hectic schedule of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by attending two meetings of “Raising Day of SPG” and a meeting on “climate change.”

The Prime Minister called upon the international community to consider creating financial mechanisms to promote environment friendly technologies, and transfer of such technologies to developing countries. In order to deal with the challenge of “Global Warming and Climate Change” Singh urged the developed countries to work for the promotion of environmentally sustainable development.

The PM was speaking in a meeting to discuss a Strategy Paper on Climate Change.