Manmohan Singh restored Chandrababu Naidu's NSG cover after 2004 Maoist attack, going against YSR: Nara Lokesh recalls

"The year 2004 was a particularly difficult time for us. Our leader Mr. Chandrababu Naidu had recently recovered from an attempt on his life after a dangerous bomb blast by Naxals near Tirupati and the @jaiTDP party had just lost the 2004 elections," Lokesh said in a post on X.

Led by YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Congress swept the 2004 Andhra polls, removing the TDP from power.

"At this crucial time, the new state government had moved to reduce security cover to Mr. @ncbn garu. This would've prevented him from being with the people and representing their issues," Lokesh said.

"At this time, Mr. @ncbn garu met the then-prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and personally requested him to restore security cover citing the recent attacks on his life and the heightened threat perception as was ascertained by security agencies," he added.

Dr Singh had told N Chandrababu Naidu that he was important to the nation and provided him with NSG security cover despite resistance from the state's Congress government, Lokesh said.

Dr. Singh, who served as India's prime minister from 2004 to 2014, passed away at 92 on December 26 at AIIMS Delhi.

His last rites were performed on Saturday at Nigambodh Ghat with full state honours.