The Prime Minister’s cavalry met the farmers protesting in front of the 10 km . site
New Delhi:
The Union Home Office said today that a three-member committee will probe “serious flaws in security arrangements” during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab on Wednesday. Union Service said.
The Home Office said in a tweet the lapses in the Prime Minister’s security had “lead to VVIP posing a serious security risk”.
The three-member committee will be led by Sudhir Kumar Saxena, Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat and includes Balbir Singh, Joint Director of Intelligence and S Suresh, Inspector General of the SPG. The Committee has been advised to submit its report as soon as possible.
The image of the Prime Minister’s motorcade stuck on an overpass in Punjab, just 10 kilometers from his scheduled protest site in Ferozepur, took the country by surprise as the BJP accused the Punjab government of harboring ” murderous intent” to the Prime Minister. The party alleges that the lapse was carefully prepared by the state in coordination with police and protesting farmers.
The BJP has released what it says is an “internal memo” from the Punjab Police, claiming that it deals with last-minute changes in travel plans due to bad weather and that “farmers have the ability to ability to hold dharnas… can lead to traffic jams … please make necessary diversion plans”.
The state parliament has been fiercely protective of its police in what has now turned into a political election with just a few months to go before congressional elections. The government of Premier Charanjit Channi, who took office three months ago, has been accused of not offering an alternative route despite intelligence on farmer protests. The Minister has been accused of not answering a number of SOS calls due to the Prime Minister’s confidential details.
However, the National Assembly still thinks that the Prime Minister’s travel plan has been changed without the state police’s knowledge – a complete violation of the regulations.
The problem of the state is far from over. A petition has now been filed before the High Court calling for the dismissal of the Punjab Home Minister and the chief of police. The highest court will hear the case tomorrow.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday was in the state of taking part in the poll to dedicate projects worth Rs 42,000 crore to the people of Punjab. He landed in Bathinda in the morning from where he was scheduled to fly to Ferozepur – the site of his protest. However, inclement weather forced a change of plans with Prime Minister Modi deciding to do the 100km by road – a two-hour drive.
10 km ahead of the site, his cavalry met the protesting peasants, keeping the convoy with the Prime Minister waiting on the bridge for 20 minutes. They eventually got back to the Prime Minister telling airport officials to “thank their Minister” that he made it alive at the airport.
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