MHA directs Punjab govt to fix accountability for PM’s major security breach and punish the guilty
The prime minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Ferozpur, Punjab where he had to address people and make several announcements of various projects was cancelled owing to major security breach said the ministry of home affairs.
In a statement today the Home ministry said that taking cognisance of the serious security lapse it has sought a detailed report from Punjab government.
Taking a, serious view of the prime minister’s security lapse the home ministry has also issued necessary directives to Punjab government to fix the accountability on those responsible for the lapse and take suitable stringent against them for this blunder.
The prime minister Narendra Modi’s cavalcade was today held up for about twenty minutes on a flyover about thirty kilometres away from Hussainiwala where he was to go to the National Martyrs Memorial by helicopter.
Due to rain and poor visibility, the Prime Minister waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out.
When the weather did not improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Marytrs Memorial via road, which would take more than two hours. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police.
Around 30 kms away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the Prime Minister’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors.
The Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister’s schedule and travel plan was communicated well in advance to the Punjab Government.
However, the leader if Congress speaking to the media Alka Lamba denied that the Punjab government was informed about the change of plans of prime minister’s cavalcade going by road. According to the home ministry’s statement as per procedure, the Punjab government have to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready.
Also in view of the contingency plan the Punjab Government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road , which were clearly not deployed.
After this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda Airport. According to the latest news the prime minister at Bhatinda airport has thanked the Punjab officers at the airport saying that please convey to your chief minister that I am alive reaching the Bhatinda airport safely.
The national chief of BJP J. P Nadda has while strongly criticizing the Punjab govt in series of tweets wrote : It is anguishing to note that the tour of prime minister going to Punjab to announce developmental projects of thousands of crores of rupees have been held up. But we will not let the lowest mentality to become bottleneck in the development of Punjab n shall continue to energise our efforts for the development of Punjab.
He expressed his serious concern tweeting that despite the DGP and chief secretary assuring the SPG that prime minister’s cavalcade road us clear the protestors were deliberately allowed to protest on PM’s route compromising with his high profile security. Accusing the Punjab CM for deliberately non cooperating he tweeted that he not only did not attended my phone but refuse to co-operate on this serious matter. The strategy being adopted by Punjab CM will trouble, infuriate and annoy anyone believing in democratic values and constitutional norms tweeted Nadda.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) taking cognisance of this serious security lapse has sought a detailed report from the state government. The State Government has also been asked to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action.
