Centre institutes panel to probe PM security lapse
MHA says Punjab top cop cleared Modi’s road travel
As the war of words between the Punjab government and the Centre, as well as the BJP and the Congress escalated on Thursday over the breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security in Bathinda on Wednesday, sources in the Union home ministry said the PM’s journey by road was planned after Punjab’s director-general of police (DGP) had cleared the route.
I&B minister Anurag Thakur said on Thursday that the MHA was gathering information about the incident and “will take big and tough decisions”. It is learnt the Centre is considering action under the Special Protection Group (SPG) Act against Punjab police officers responsible for the lapse.
In a “major security lapse”, Modi’s convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by farmer protesters in Ferozepur on Wednesday. He returned from poll-bound Punjab without attending any event, including a scheduled BJP rally.
The home ministry, meanwhile, set up a panel to probe serious lapses in security during the Prime Minister's visit to Punjab.
According to a spokesperson of the home ministry, the panel will be led by Sudhir Saxena, secretary, security, while other members are Balbir Singh, joint director, intelligence bureau and S. Suresh, IG, SPG.
“The home ministry has also spoken about taking action. After gathering information, whatever steps... big and tough decisions will be taken by it. It is my firm belief that the country’s judicial system does justice to everyone and when such mistakes happen, whatever steps need to be taken will be taken,” Thakur said.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has denied any security lapse or political motive behind the incident and said his government was ready for an inquiry. The Punjab government has constituted a two-member high-level committee to conduct a “thorough probe” into the lapses during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ferozepur, an official spokesperson said. The committee, which will submit its report within three days, comprises Justice Mehtab Singh Gill (Retd) and the state’s principal secretary (home affairs and justice) Anurag Verma.
The Union home ministry has directed the state government to file an immediate report, saying it did not ensure the required deployment. Home minister Amit Shah said such dereliction of security procedures during the PM’s visit was “totally unacceptable” and that “accountability will be fixed”. In Uttarkashi, defence minister Rajnath Singh said if the safety of the Prime Minister cannot be ensured, it would be difficult to prevent the “disintegration of the country’s democratic institutions”.
On Thursday morning, Modi briefed President Ram Nath Kovind on the security breach that stalled his Punjab visit after the President voiced concern over the security lapse. “President Ram Nath Kovind met Prime Minister Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan today and received from him a first-hand account of the security breach in his convoy in Punjab yesterday,” the President’s secretariat said. Earlier, vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu spoke to Modi and expressed his deep concern over the incident.
Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma met Governor Banwarilal Purohit in Chandigarh, seeking the dismissal of the state’s home minister and its police chief. He said they don’t have any expectations from the panel set up by the state government to probe Wednesday’s incident. “The Chief Minister is the conspirator of this conspiracy. What will this committee set up by his government do?” Sharma said to reporters after meeting the Governor.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel alleged that BJP was building a case to dislodge the Congress government in Punjab by raking up the issue.