Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the Special Protection Group(SPG) is necessary for the security of the Prime Minister of the country and that the amendment bill would make the force stronger. Amit Shah on Wednesday said the purpose of the amendment in the Special Protection Group (SPG) Amendment Bill, 2019 is to enhance the efficiency of the elite black cat commandos.

Shah's remarks came while moving for consideration and passing the Bill in the Lok Sabha which seeks amendment to the SPG Act, 1988 that provides for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union for providing "proximate security" to the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers and members of their immediate families and for matters connected therewith.

"The purpose of the SPG Bill is to make the SpecialProtection Group more efficient and there should not be any apathy in itswork," Shah said.

Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy on Mondayintroduced the Bill.

Addressing the lower House, Shah said there have beenamendments in the law in 1991, 1994, 1999 and 2003 and that he has come withanother amendment in the SPG Act on Wednesday which is "in accordance withthe basics of the law".

After the amendment of the Act, Shah said the new law wouldmake it mandatory that the SPG protection is only provided to the PrimeMinister and members of his immediate family residing with him at his officialresidence.

"Secondly, the SPG protection will be given to theformer Prime Ministers and such members of his immediate family who reside withhim at the residence allotted to him, for a period of five years from the datehe ceases to hold the office of Prime Minister," he said.

The Minister said the SPG was set up in 1985 on theassessment of Birbalnath Committee which was formed after the assassination ofIndira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 to consider the security of Prime Minister.

From 1985 to 1988, SPG used to work on the basis ofadministrative order, said Shah, adding a law was made in 1988 under which theSPG started its work to provide security to the Prime Minister and his familymembers.

He said that the SPG protection is being provided to thePrime Minister in the wake of the killing of two Prime Ministers, which is ahuge loss to the country.

So, SPG was created and a law was made to maintain theuniqueness of the elite group, Shah said.

Explaining the necessity of SPG cover for Prime Minister,the Home Minister said: "SPG is needed for the protection of the PrimeMinister as he takes some tough decisions for the welfare of the country,security of the country and for the betterment of the society."

"SPG is necessary only to bring down to 'Zero' level ofthe threat perception to the life of Prime Minister. The SPG facility was madeon the basis of the post and that the force provides security to PrimeMinister, his office, his communication, and all."

Shah said that the "special" word in the Act meansit is only for the security of the Prime Minister and former prime ministers.

"It is not only limited to the physical security of thePrime Minister but the security of Prime Minister's post, his dignity, hisoffice, his institution, his health, and communication. All these things aremonitored by the SPG because he is the head of the government."

Referring to Israel, France and England, Shah said there arevarious other countries in the world where such protection groups providesecurity to the head of their nations and the place where they work and stay.