The security cover of senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia has been scaled down following a reassessment of his threat perception, a senior Punjab Police official confirmed on Wednesday.
However, the police denied claims that his security had been completely withdrawn, countering the accusations made by SAD leaders.
Majithia questioned the move, pointing out that only a few weeks ago, the police had instructed him to enhance security measures at his residence in Amritsar. According to him, he was advised to increase the height of the perimeter wall, install barbed wire, and add more CCTV cameras for surveillance.
The police’s clarification came a day after SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had withdrawn Majithia's Z-plus security cover as part of a political vendetta. Badal accused the Punjab government of orchestrating a "witch hunt" against Majithia, whom he claimed was being targeted unfairly.
Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla refuted reports that Majithia’s security had been completely revoked. He explained that security arrangements are subject to periodic review by a designated security committee, which assesses the level of threat and adjusts the security cover accordingly.
Based on the latest review, it was decided to scale down Majithia’s security detail. However, Shukla asserted that the SAD leader still retained adequate protection, including an escort vehicle and multiple gunmen.
Majithia expressed concerns over the sudden change in his security status. He questioned how the threat perception could change so drastically within a short span, especially given that law enforcement officials had recently emphasized the need for heightened security at his residence.
Amid the controversy, Sukhbir Singh Badal visited Majithia at his residence, accompanied by senior SAD leaders Balwinder Singh Bhundar and Daljit Singh Cheema. Badal condemned the AAP government's decision to reduce Majithia’s security, accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration of prioritizing the safety of AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, over opposition figures.
Badal also criticised the AAP government for indulging in "petty politics" and declared that the SAD would take responsibility for Majithia’s security. “The entire Akali Dal stands with Majithia. We will strongly fight against this injustice,” he asserted.
The SAD chief further alleged that AAP leaders from Delhi, including Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, were exerting undue influence over Punjab’s governance. He described the scaling down of Majithia’s security as part of a larger conspiracy to "eliminate the Akali leadership."
He also referenced an alleged assassination attempt against him outside the Golden Temple in Amritsar in December last year as part of this alleged plot.
Majithia elaborated on previous security concerns, revealing that an IPS officer had visited his Amritsar residence in January, advising him to implement stricter security measures. He said this warning came in the wake of multiple explosion incidents at police stations in Amritsar.
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The SAD leader stated that security is not an entitlement but questioned the logic behind the abrupt change in assessment. “Around a month ago, the police advised me to increase my security arrangements. How did the threat perception suddenly end within a month? I fail to understand,” he remarked.
Majithia also disclosed that police officials had requested an affidavit and proof of registration for his bulletproof vehicle. He cited a police briefing that had previously indicated threats to his life from militant organisations such as Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Zindabad Force.
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He recalled that his security cover was initially granted during the tenure of the UPA government when P. Chidambaram was the Union Home Minister. Majithia called on Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav to provide a written confirmation stating that he no longer required security.
Reading out a message he had sent to DGP Yadav following the reduction in his security cover, Majithia warned, “If I am harmed or assassinated, you will be held personally responsible.”
The move to reduce Majithia’s security has drawn criticism from leaders across party lines. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, BJP leaders Jaiveer Shergill, Arvind Khanna, and Vineet Joshi, as well as Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, have condemned the decision.
Jakhar remarked, “Whether Bikram Singh Majithia’s security has been removed for political reasons is a debate for another day. However, I would like to remind the Bhagwant Mann government that personal vendettas should never dictate such decisions. Withdrawing security to settle political scores diminishes the stature of the chief minister’s office, if the chief minister truly cares.”
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