Patna: The ruling Nitish Kumar government in Bihar in a very significant political move has withdrawn VIP security to his former party colleague George Fernandes. He was the first president of the Janata Dal United that Kumar heads now.
Till now, the veteran trade unionist Fernandes who served as federal minister in several Union governments at the centre was enjoying “Z” category security cover but under the new decision of the state government, he has been left with no security. Fernandes is known as the mentor of Bihar chief minister.
A decision to withdraw his security was taken at a meeting of state security committee held earlier. On late Monday evening, the state home department issued a formal notification in this regard.
Both the leaders shared a very good relationship until 2006 when Kumar helped Sharad Yadav become the president of the JD-U, replacing Fernandes. Later, the relationship deteriorated to such an extent that Fernandes was denied LS ticket in 2009 after which he contested the LS polls as an independent from Muzaffarpur seat which he lost badly.
The health conditions of the veteran socialist leader are said to be deteriorating very fast as he has been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. He has been under the care of his wife Leila Kabir Fernandes and his son Sean Fernandes since 2010 but last year in June the Delhi High Court allowed his three brothers the right to visit their ailing brother.
His three brothers, Michael Fernandes, Aloysious Fernandes and Richard Fernandes have fought a prolonged battle with Leila and Sean over his custody and health care. Last year in October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a courtesy visit to Fernandes.
The meeting was held to review the security of prominent persons. In the light of recommendations made by the state security committee, the state government has also removed security cover of there others prominent persons who include Ramchandra Sahani, lawmaker, SN Jha, State Human Rights Commission chairman, and Rajesh Walia who headed the Kosi Flood Inquiry Commission.
Apart from them, the state government has also curtailed the security cover of former minister Narendra Singh. Singh who was availing “Z” category security has been given “Y” category security now.
