To a question on the increase in the number of vehicles in the Home Minister's security apparatus, Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami, who was present at the press conference, said it has been done on the basis of threat perception.
Goswami said new vehicles (Tata Safaris) were included based on security requirements and threat perception to the Home Minister. As the SUVs were not immediately available off-the-shelf, they were included in his cavalcade recently, he said.
Shinde said he has never taken security in his political career of 40 years and even during his stint as the Union Power Minister, he only had one personal security officer (PSO).
"I am a Home Minister who remians with the 'janta'. But due to some action and activities in the Home Ministry, my security is like this," he said, hinting at the execution of terrorists like Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab and arrest of some terror masterminds since he took over in July 2012.
Shinde said that based on the inputs received on security "risk" to Gujarat Chief Minister Narenda Modi and BJP leader L K Advani, they have been given appropriate security cover.
He also said the Home Ministry will examine the issue of security arrangement if the AAP-led Delhi government decides to hold a Delhi Assembly session in Ramlila Maidan.
"I have not heard something like this before but we will see when it comes to us," he said.
