Zee Media Bureau

Delhi: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has been given Z class security by the BJP-led NDA government, as per reports on Monday.

The decision has been taken by the Home Ministry after receiving inputs from security agencies and increased perception of threat to Ramdev, official sources said, as per PTI.

So far, Ramdev was entitled to ‘Z’ category security only within the jurisdiction of Uttarakhand as per a decision of the state government.

Close to saffron forces, Ramdev, founder of Haridwar- based Patanjali Yogpeeth, had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month.

The sources said Ramdev will be given commandos of one of the paramilitary forces with immediate effect. As many as 40 security personnel will be guarding him round-the-clock.

Reacting to the news, Congress leader JP Agarwal was quoted by ANI as saying that Ramdev had been given security “to make him happy or to keep him quiet.”

On the other hand CPI leader D Raja questioned the threat to Baba Ramdev. “There are many yoga gurus in the nation. Z security should not become a status symbol,” he said.

Rubbishing the charges, BJP leader Vijay Goel said, “Congress has no issues now so they are picking up non-issues. Baba Ramdev has a huge following so obviously government thinks of his security.”

Ramdev is considered close to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. He had campaigned for the BJP in the 2014 General Elections and had shared the dais with Narendra Modi on various occasions.

He has also been raising his voice regarding black money stashed abroad and as part of his anti-corruption movement, he had held a public rally in the national capital for a few days at Ramlila Maidan in 2011.

With Agency inputs