Maharashtra government has offered top level security to the 73-year-old.
Mumbai: Anna Hazare's life seems to be in danger if Maharashtra government is to be believed. For the government is mulling providing the anti-corruption activist Z-level security which is just one rung lower than the Z+ enjoyed by top politicians.
The moves comes after the anti-corruption crusader returned to his village, Ralegan Siddhi, in Ahmednagar district after ending his 12-day fast in New Delhi for the Lokpal Bill.
Ahmednagar SP Krishan Prakash has sent a proposal to the state government asking for the social activist to be provided the 'Z' security.
Under 'Z' category, 22 policemen will guard the Gandhian. The state government had on Saturday also sent a police team to visit Ralegan Siddhi to oversee security arrangements since a huge number of people have been visiting the village to see and hear Anna.
Normally, the government does not provide such high security to private citizens.
The Prithviraj Chavan government is, however, seems seriously concerned about Anna's well-being.
A senior government official explained: "He has become popular and people from all parts of the country are trooping in to meet him.
What if there is an incident? Considering that he was at loggerheads with the Congress over the Lokpal Bill, the blame would fall on us." Unlike in normal cases, where the non-VIP availing the security needs to pay for it, the government would make an exception for Anna and itself bear the cost. In the past too, the Maharashtra government has provided security to Anna.
Even as the proposal awaits clearance, Prakash has already sent in police personnel to guard Anna.
In fact, the security was so tight that when Anna returned, many of his close aides in Ralegan Siddhi - who used to have easy access - could not get to meet him.
Even journalists were not allowed to meet the activist.
This could be the reason why Anna, who probably interacts more with the media than with the common man, is reluctant about getting enhanced security.
He told reporters that freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh did not have any security.
"Why do I need it," he asked. He has reportedly set conditions for accepting the 'Z' security, the prominent ones being that the guards shouldn't be in uniform or curtail his interactions with people.
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