Double ASL coordination required for Modi's rallies: Nanda

Gujarat government has written to the Centre seeking double Advance Security Liaison (ASL) protected coordination for BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's election rallies in various states.

The move comes in the wake of blasts in Patna shortly before Modi's 'Hunkar' rally.

Modi has been accorded Z-plus security with round-the-clock protection by elite National Security Guard command. The central government had on Wednesday ruled out providing Special Protection Group (SPG) security to Narendra Modi, saying he does not need it.

"We have asked the Centre to ensure double ASL protected coordination (from Gujarat and the respective state where the rally is being held) at each place where Modi is going to address election rallies," state Additional Chief Secretary (Home) S K Nanda told PTI.

The Centre was communicated last week in this connection and it is expected to ask states to look into the issue, Nanda said.

In addition, Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) of Gujarat will now go to Modi's rallies as a beefed up security cover along with NSG, he said.

The state police had two days back slammed their Bihar counterparts over alleged security lapses during Modi's rally in Patna, in which six persons died, by saying that had the Bihar administration heeded the request of the Gujarat police, perhaps the situation could have been avoided.

"The senior police officers from Gujarat had requested the Bihar police for conducting a joint Advance Security Liaison (ASL)," the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) of Gujarat had said.

"It was only after great persuasion that Bihar police officers agreed to join the ASL, which was conducted by SP (Patna city), Additional Director (IB) and SP (CM Security) Gujarat," the office stated.

"However, the Bihar police officers for reasons best known to them had refused to sign the ASL report and had not taken note of relevant issue mentioned therein," the DGP office had further mentioned.