Z-Plus Security Is Meant To “Spy” On Him, Suspects Sharad Pawar

Mumbai: NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has alleged that the Z-plus security cover provided to him may be an arrangement to get “authentic information” about him ahead of the Maharashtra assembly polls.

Elections to the 288-member Maharashtra assembly are likely to be held in October-November.

On Wednesday, the Central government accorded Z-plus security to Sharad Pawar. It is the highest category of armed VIP security cover.

The 83-year-old political stalwart told newsmen in Navi Mumbai on Thursday that he wasn’t aware of the reason behind the provision of Z-plus security to him.

“The Home ministry official told me that the government has decided to give three persons Z-plus security and I was one of them. I asked who the other two were. I was told RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Union home minister Amit Shah,” said Pawar.

“Maybe since elections are approaching, this can be an arrangement to get authentic information (about me),” he quipped.

Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP) is a part of the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) that includes Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress. This alliance won 30 of the 48 seats in the state in the Lok Sabha polls. The ruling Mahayuti coalition of BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar, managed to win only 17 seats.