The NDA government at the Centre on Saturday ordered CRPF security cover for West Bengal BJP chief Rahul Sinha and BJP MP and Union Minister of State Babul Supriyo.

Confirming this, West Bengal Home Secretary Basudeb Banerjee said the Union Home Ministry had also granted CRPF cover to Aveek Sarkar, Chief Editor, ABP Group, about a week back, apparently due to the “high threat perception”.

“We have written a letter to the Centre in this regard. Public order is a state subject and state government should have been consulted before providing central police forces for these leaders,” said Banerjee. He said the state government had sent a similar letter to the Centre on Sarkar’s security cover also.

When contacted, CRPF IG Vivek Sahay said, “We have received the orders from the MHA and we are executing it.”

Both Sinha and Supriyo were not available for comment. Despite repeated attempts, Sarkar’s secretary said he could not be contacted before Monday.

“The party has issued a statement in this regard. The party and our president never sought security. Based on information from central intelligence agencies, he may have been provided security cover. He has been given Y-category security cover,” said State BJP spokesperson Ritesh Tiwari.

“The way our functionaries are being attacked in the state, they must have proper security cover. The Chief Minister herself could not trust the police and took RPF cover. How does the state government then expect us to rely on it,” said senior party leader Tathagata Roy.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee got Railway Protection Force (RPF) security when she was Union Railways Minister. On her insistence, RPF personnel are still a part of her security team.

Criticising the Centre’s decision, TMC national spokesperson Derek O’Brien tweeted: “Giving the BJP Bengal president CRPF security is just another example of misusing central power. All this was done without consulting the state government… Bulldozing the federal structure. These actions all have clear political purpose and a negative destructive attitude. A ‘central dictatorship’ is going on.”

While the BJP has emerged as the principal opposition to the ruling TMC in the state, the ABP Group and the present regime have been on a collision course.

“One particular national political party along with one media house of Bengal is constantly engaged in maligning the state political personalities of the ruling party. It is very unfortunate that this vilification campaign is being repeatedly spread by quoting different Central agencies and without documents/ proof. It is a sad time for democracy. The ruling party in the Centre should not bulldoze the regional parties and destabilise the federal structure,” the CM posted on her Facebook page on Thursday.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.