Former R&AW chief Samant Goel has rejected calls to shrink Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security and convoy for fuel savings, arguing it would harm national interest. In comments to ANI, he said the threat picture has evolved, with risks like drones and sniper attacks, and that even leaders in “safe” countries have been targeted. Goel also stressed security planning is threat-based, that anonymity of vehicle movement matters, and that SPG mandatory protections must remain intact.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed the Special Protection Group to cut his official convoy vehicles by nearly half, signaling a wider government austerity drive. The order also pushes for greater use of electric vehicles and is prompting officials to explore additional fuel-saving steps such as metro travel and carpooling across ministries.
Your news, in seconds
Get the Beige app — every story in 60 words, updated hourly. Free on iOS & Android.
Swipe through stories, personalise your feed, and save articles for later — all on the app.
