Full security for BJP conclave, say organisers

INDORE - Along with Madhya Pradesh police, the Anti Terrorist Squad, commandos, bomb disposal squad, sniffer dogs, more than 150 “pahalwans” (wrestlers) will safeguard top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders reaching here for the three-day National Conclave.

In the wake of Pune terror attack, the party is not taking any chance with the security of its senior leaders like parliamentary party president L.K. Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and former presidents Rajnath Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi and M. Venkaiaah Naidu, who along with other senior leaders, will stay here in tents.

These tents have been specially designed to adhere to the eco friendly nature of the conclave.

Around 1,300 tents with 25 VVIP tents for the senior-most party leaders have been put up for around 5,000 delegates of the national executive and national council.

The party has taken several steps to make the venue more secure after reports of a possible terror attack at Indore.

BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said: “Whatever security was required, we have arranged it. We had lots of discussion with senior police officials regarding security. We are careful but not worried.”

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and party president Nitin Gadkari moved around the city in open jeeps Tuesday and garlanded the statue of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh in the heart of the city.

Chouhan himself is closely monitoring the security arrangements.

“We are not worried as we have made all the necessary security arrangements. Other than this, our workers and village security personnel will look after the security of our leaders,” state Commerce and Industries minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is also in-charge of conclave venue, told IANS.

“We have specially appointed more than 150 pahalwans. With their big muscles and wearing traditional Malwa turbans, our pahalwans will not only safeguard our leaders but will also be able to give fights to terrorists,” he said.

Indore has been a centre of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). There were media reports regarding possible terror attack at the BJP’s Indore conclave after the deadly bombing at the Pune’s German Bakery Saturday evening, in which the death toll has risen to 10.