PM’s estranged wife wants her due perks

PM’s estranged wife wants her due perks

FPJ BureauUpdated: Saturday, June 01, 2019, 06:25 AM IST
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Gandhinagar: Jashodaben, the estranged wife of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday created a sensation of sorts when she sought information under the Right to Information Act on the security assigned to her.

The Mehsana District Superintendent of Police, J.R.Mothalia, has confirmed that an application has been received by the police from Jashodaben Modi but declined to give details. ‘‘Some queries have been raised’’ is all that he was prepared to volunteer.

Her brother Ashok Modi was, however, more forthcoming. He said that while Jasodaben travels by public transport, the security assigned to her is for traveling in an air-conditioned vehicle. ‘‘We have sought information from the securitymen but they refuse to say anything beyond giving a telephone number and asking us to elicit whatever information is needed from this number,” he said, adding that nobody is prepared to give us anything in writing.

“As the Prime Minister’s wife, she is a VVIP and therefore entitled to certain facilities but though six months have gone by, we have neither any idea nor information on her minimum entitlements in this regard. Just today we went from Unjha to Mehsana on my two-wheeler while the security trailed us in an air-conditioned car,” he added.

The application filed under the RTI Act has invoked the life and liberty clause to seek a reply within 48 hours.

Though primarily focusing on information relating to the security, which seeks to know on whose orders do the commandos travel in government vehicles when the protectee travels by public transport, it also wants to know what are the duties of the securitymen assigned to protect her. She has also sought information on what other facilities she is entitled to as the wife of the Prime Minister.

Pointing out that the security staff so assigned seek special guest-like treatment, she has sought a certified copy of the legal order which mandates this security.

The application mentions the assassination of the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her own securitymen and makes the point that the security is not up to the mark. She has asked for the details of the personnel deployed as well as a copy of the order of deployment. Talking to media persons later she spoke of injustice, pointing out that she has got nothing of what is due to a Prime Minister’s wife. “I walk on foot, travel by scooter or auto-rickshaws, while the security travels in government vehicles. I should get the rights mandated to a Prime Minister’s wife. This is not just,” she said.

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