The central government will review the security cover of former prime ministers and their families in a meeting later this week, to reduce the burden on the special protection group (SPG), sources of the home ministry said today.
Set up in 1985, the SPG is given the task of protecting the current prime minister, former PMs and their families based on threat perception.
The SPG guards PM Narendra Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, his foster-daughter Namita Bhattacharya, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her two children Rahul and Priyanka.
Sources said that threats that these people face will be considered and accordingly their security will be decided.
The security establishment is currently debating over transferring the security of some of the protectees to any of the central paramilitary forces.
Except for the prime minister, the security is extended for a year after getting a feedback from security agencies.
In 2016, when security for Manmohan Singh and his wife was reviewed, there were chances of paramilitary force taking over the duties due to a negligible threat.
The meeting will be attended by SPG chief Arun Kumar Sinha, IB director Rajiv Jain and secretary (security) in the cabinet secretariat RK Kini.
The SPG has 10,000 personnel, who are on deputation from state police paramilitary forces like CRPF and BSF.
