After his SPG Protection was withdrawn by the government, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife have been accorded with a CRPF 'Z+' VIP security cover, officials said on Monday. They also stated that Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife have been accorded the cover with a strength of about 45 armed commandos who will guard them round-the-clock at their residence on 3, Motilal Nehru Road in Delhi and their movement across the country. In addition to the CRPF cover, the former PM and Congress Rajya Sabha MP will also be granted an Advance Security Liaison (ASL) protocol where the security personnel will conduct an advance recce of the venue that is to be visited by both Manmohan Singh and his wife.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will soon take over the charge after consultations with the SPG, Delhi Police and central intelligence agencies, the officials added. This development has come after the Special Protection Group (SPG) protection, the country's highest grade of protection, given to Dr Manmohan Singh was recently withdrawn after a review by multiple security agencies. The decision to withdraw the SPG security was taken after a three-month review involving the Cabinet Secretariat and the Ministry of Home Affairs with inputs from various intelligence agencies, officials added. 

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Meanwhile, the SPG cover, which is the top-notch security cover, will continue to be provided to PM Modi and the Gandhi family including Congress' interim chief Sonia Gandhi, Wayanad MP Rahul and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The SPG

WHAT IS SPG COVER?

The SPG cover was initiated in 1985 after the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi. In 1988, the Parliament passed the SPG Act, which dedicated the group cover for the protection of the Prime Minister. It consists of over 3,000 personnel, who cover Prime Ministers as well as former Prime Ministers and their families. 

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Dr Manmohan Singh elected to Rajya Sabha

86-year-old senior Congress leader Dr Manmohan Singh was elected to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan recently, unopposed after the BJP did not put up a candidate against him. He, earlier, served as the member of the Upper House of Parliament from Assam for almost three decades. He was a Rajya Sabha member for five consecutive terms from 1991 to 2019 and the country's prime minister for two consecutive terms between 2004 and 2014.

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(With PTI inputs)