A serious lapse was recorded in security of PM in the poll-bound state of Punjab on Wednesday. PM Who was to visit the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwal in Ferozepur District of Punjab was stopped midway 30 KMs before the place on an over bridge by some 100 protesters blocking the path using a trolley. PM waited for 15-20 minutes for the road to be cleared on the Over Bridge but returned back when the local Police failed to do that.
A MHA official said that the intelligence reports regarding protest threats were duly shared with the local administration which failed to follow the SPG BLUE BOOK which lays down rules for security of PM. He said “The Blue Book States that a contingency route plan must be prepared for the protected by state police in case of any adverse situation “. He also said that Bureau of intelligence was in contact with Punjab Police which assured them of complete protection during movement.
The PM landed in Bathinda in the morning and was to travel by a Helicopter as per the original plan but that had to be changed owing to inclement weather after a 20 minutes wait at the Bathinda Airport. Then it was decided that he will visit National Martyrs Memorial by Road which would have taken 2 hours said the official.
He further said that this is a very serious matter owing to the fact that the place is very near to the international boarder and more than 150 Drone Sightings were recorded in the year 2021 with countless unrecorded sightings as well. It may be noted here that on 4th November a Tiffin Box containing explosives was also found by Punjab Police in the fields in Ferozepur District.
MHA has asked for a detailed report in the matter within 24 hours from the Punjab Authorities.
Meanwhile, politics has also started on this matter and leaders across party line have condemned this lapse. AAP MP Bhagwant Maan has termed this as a big failure whereas Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has termed this lapse as a failure on the part of Punjab Government and has said that Law and Order situation in Punjab has deteriorated over the period.
Cabinet Minister Punjab Rana Gurjeet Singh and Congress MLA Parminder Singh Pinki have also reprimanded the lapse and demanded a cabinet meeting and the resignation of DGP on the issue respectively. On the other side, BJP leaders are due to meet the Governor of Punjab Mr. BL Purohit today to demand sacking of Punjab Government led by CM Charanjeet Singh Channi today.
Also read: Punjab Govt constitutes high-level committee to probe lapses during Prime Minister's visit
People of Punjab are asking- Who is responsible for this lapse? Is it the DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyay who was to camp in the area or ADGP Nageshwar Rao who was in charge of the security or for that matter CM Channi himself, who according to JP Nadda National President BJP failed to attend a call even? Questions are many but when will we find the answers to all? Everything said and done, matters pertaining to national security must be kept away from politics and PM Security is definitely one of those matters.
It may be recalled that PM Narendra Modi had to cancel his visit to Ferozepur where he was to address a rally and announce and inaugurate schemes worth INR 42750 Crores including a satellite center of PGI at Ferozepur owing to the protest of Farmers.