Snoopgate? Anil Deshmukh says ‘spies’ in Sharad Pawar’s Z+ security to dial BJP handlers | Nagpur News – Times of India

Sharad Pawar given Z-plus cover with 58 men manning him 24X7

NAGPUR: The recent security upgrade of NCP founder Sharad Pawar to Z-plus category with at least 58 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel manning a multi-layered security ring, has not gone down well with his faction of the party. Seniors like former state home minister Anil Deshmukh took potshots at the state and Central govt for spying on the veteran leader in the pretext of extending him protection.
Pawar’s close confidante Deshmukh, incumbent Katol MLA, tore into the BJP leadership for trying to plant spies at the patriarch’s residence, vehicles, and places in his itinerary.

Deshmukh stated the party leadership had been debating the motive and timing behind the security upgrade for senior Pawar in run-up to elections. “When there was no requirement of enhancing security and no one asked for it, then it is questionable why the incumbent state govt and its counterparts at the Centre were so keen on extending 58 CRPF personnel for the security of our leader. Who asked for it? Our senior leadership is clueless how a contingent of 58 CRPF personnel landed up to guard the veteran leader, which also left him flabbergasted,” said Deshmukh. He stated his party colleagues could not rule out govt spies in the security ring to keep a tab on senior Pawar, under whom Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) camp had stunned rival Mahayuti in the Lok Sabha election .
Deshmukh stated the incumbent BJP leadership in the state and the Centre want to know who is coming to meet senior Pawar, which included MLAs, to gauge their possibility of joining him. “The current BJP leadership in the state and Centre wanted to know which MLA or MPs are meeting him (Pawar). They have ensured someone always shadows our leader in the car too, to eavesdrop on his conversation and relay it back to their handler to create a counter strategy. This is all happening as the BJP leadership is apprehensive about his role in coming days with the assembly elections just a couple of months away,” said the former home minister, adding many leaders and MLAs are keen to join our faction under the leadership of senior Pawar.
When asked about any plan to protest against the security upgrade, Deshmukh stated party members are observing developments and discussing pros and cons, but no agitation has been planned yet.
Sources stated the state and Central govt may have upgraded the security of senior Pawar to ensure there’s no attack on him that may trigger a sympathy wave in his favour and add traction for his NCP faction in the coming election.