Being Modi’s wife, Jashodaben shall become entitled to Special Protection Group (SPG) security, mandated for the PM and his immediate family.































NEW DELHI: Narendra Modi and his wife Jashodaben may not have shared life for over four decades but they may soon be sharing the same security cover if BJP wins the elections.

Being Modi's wife, Jashodaben shall become entitled to Special Protection Group (SPG) security, mandated for the PM and his immediate family. The SPG detail for Jashodaben, who by virtue of being Modi's wife would face a security threat, can be deployed at her residence in Brahmanwada village in Mehsana district of Gujarat, said a senior security expert.

Leading a reclusive life with religious books and char dham yatras, Jashodaben could be catapulted to unwanted limelight and VIP status that Modi's anointment would bring with it.

According to the Special Protection Group Act, the prime minister, former prime ministers and their immediate family are entitled to SPG security with or without a threat perception assessment. The law, however, is not clear if the protectee himself or herself can decline SPG protection.

A former security official contacted by TOI insisted that SPG cover being sort of mandatory, could be refused by the protectee only in the face of no security threat against him or her. This effectively means that Jashodaben has the option to refuse security but not if there is threat perception. However, another security expert indicated that if Jashodaben were to decline SPG protection in a formal communication to the SPG director, the elite force would have to abide by her sentiment.

Sources in the Union home ministry said Jashodaben, in all likelihood, would have to be extended SPG security even after she refuses to take it. "There is a serious threat to Narendra Modi from various terror outfits. If he becomes prime minister, this threat will only get accentuated. Now that he has declared Jashodaben as his wife and her identity and whereabouts have become public knowledge, there would be serious threat to her life as well. What if a terror outfit abducts her and tries to negotiate with the government for release of jailed terrorists?" asked an MHA official.

Modi had declared Jashodaben as his wife for the first time in the affidavit filed along with his nomination papers in Vadodara. This was done in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling last year stating that poll affidavits with blank columns were a valid ground for rejection of the nomination papers. Recently, the Election Commission issued directions making e-filing of poll affidavits mandatory. The software used for e-filing of affidavits ensures that none of the columns in the affidavits can be left blank.