By : Ishika Grover | Research Intern | kaalecoatwale.com
ABSTRACT :
This article is mainly based on the recent visit of PM Narendra Modi to Punjab. As during his visit, a serious incident took place there so was it a security lapse or not ?Basically main question which now arises is that who maintain the security of PM? Answer to this question is that the security of Prime Minister is looked by SGP which is an agency of the government of India whose sole responsibility is to protect prime minister on each and every part. It was formed in 1988 by an act of Parliament of India. This group is involved in PM’s security. There is a “blue book” which lays down all the guidelines of security related to protection of Prime Minister. The ministry of home affairs lays down all the instructions in this book as the present home minister is Amit Shah so he lays down all necessary guidelines in this book that need to be followed for proper security.
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| PM Modi's Convoy Stuck on Flyover |
IINTRODUCTION :
PM Modi on January 5 decided to visit Punjab, Ferozepur to lay the foundation of multiple development projects that was to be worth more than Rs.42,750 crore on Wednesday. These projects basically included Delhi-Amritsar-Katra-expressway railway line according to PMO. It was also decided to lay the foundation for post graduate students Institute of Medical Education and Research satellite centre in Ferozepur which will be built at total budget of 490.5 crore that used to include high dependency beds and many more facilities inside it. Along with this, it was decided to lay foundation stone of two colleges in Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur that used to took cost of around Rs. 325 crore each included seats 100 in total.
But all this came to an end in a short when PM Modi waited for 15 to 20 minutes on a flyover due to a protest by farmers. According to the statement issued was that PM Modi landed at Bathinda on Wednesday morning from where he was about to start his journey to lay foundation for developmental projects in Ferozepur. Earlier, it was that he will go to National Martyrs first but then due to bad weather conditions it got a slight change in the plan as nothing was visible outside due to worst weather and continuous rain. Although PM Modi waited for the weather to get better but after waiting for enough time there was no improvement visible in weather after that which was decided that he would visit by road only to complete his work which was a journey of more than 2 hours. He started his travel by road only after proper confirmation of security over there by Punjab Police. Around 30 km away from National Martyrs it was found that the road was totally blocked by protestors which was a major lapse in security Due to this, PM Modi went back to Bathinda Airport as it was a great risk to his life.
PM Modi cancelled his event in poll bound Punjab due to ‘security breach’. Punjabi BJP Chief Ashwani Sharma said that large number of buses and other vehicles carrying BJP workers and others were prevented from reaching rally site but he said that “there is no democracy left in Punjab”. He also said that few BJP supporters sustained injuries and windows of buses were also smashed, lunch boxes were snatched from buses. Mr. Sharma said that – “ It is unprecedented in the history of the state and probably in the history of the country that the Prime Minister was stuck on the road for about 15 – 20 mnts as the anti social elements duly supported and encouraged by the Punjab government were allowed to free run on the roads and the Prime Minister had to turn back towards the Bathinda Airport.” Earlier he used to travel to the Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala but changed his travel plan last minute due to bad weather conditions. Even sources at the centre alleged that what ever happened on flyover was a total surprising scene as the connivance between the Punjab police and protestors who were present there on the road as only the state police was aware of that route that was to be taken by the PM. Well Home Minister Mr. Amit Shah has asked for the detailed report from state government and also ordered to take strict actions regarding this step.
WAS IT A SECURITY LAPSE OR NOT ?
The incident that took place on flyover road was totally a security lapse according to my point of view and also according to other politicians as it would have caused our country a great loss if in case some mishap would have occurred. All the roads were blocked from Zira road, Fazilka road, Moga road, Muktsar road in the state. It also came in the light that most of the roadblocks were to stop BJP members and supporters from attending a huge event of PM at Ferozepur. There were different points of view of different persons as some were saying that it was pre planned and that Punjab government should not exist anymore but according to Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi it was only a small mistake and there is not at all any security lapse. Meanwhile, at a press conference, Congress accused even the Prime Minister of faking controversy about threat to his life. The visit to Punjab has kicked up a great political storm and Punjab government has even ordered separate inquiries into this matter. All this security lapse occurred due to last moment change in travel plans, for which a 32 page report has surfaced which clearly indicates that the administration has already prepared alternate security cover and route plan. No doubt that the report shows how police personnel from all the four districts had been posted on entire route as for security for the Prime Minister but still due to little bit of carelessness lead to cancellation of whole programme and caused a big threat to life of PM Narendra Modi. It was said that this security lapse was the single biggest lapse in security of any Indian Prime Minister in recent years.
FILING OF A FIR (FIRST INFORMATION REPORT):
In relation this incident The Punjab Police have registered an FIR at the Kulgari Police station in Ferozepur in the case of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security breach. As the road was blocked by large number of people which resulted in cancellation of event along with security lapse. An FIR was registered at 7:40 p.m. on 7 January, after two days of the incident. It was a 4 page FIR which is in the format of standard complaint as registered as routine case under section 283 of Indian Penal Code ( IPC) and this is totally based on the statement of a police inspector. According to section 283 of IPC it states that “whoever ,by doing any act, or by omitting to take order with any property in his possession or under his charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation, shall be punished, with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.” Although there was no mention of any danger caused to Prime Minister but still an FIR was lodged. And on the other hand it was filed against 100 unknown persons. The road that was blocked led to traffic disruption. It was further mentioned that FIR was lodged to show the home ministry that state police is actively pursuing the case whereas on other hand there was no mention in FIR about the movement of the Prime Ministers convoy that had been blocked on the flyover. The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court to secure all the records of the security measures for Prime Minister so that all the documents are hidden and there is no threat to life of PM. When a committee was set up then during the hearing, Mr. Patwalia said the separate committees of the State and the Centre have been asked to submit reports on their findings related to this whole incident within 24 to 72 hours. Mr. Singh even submitted that apex court should decide as soon as possible the step to take further once the evidence was secured and kept in protective custody. Even more strictness and security should be there in order to avoid such negligence as our country cannot afford further breaches in the security of the Prime Minister.
CONSEQUENCES OF SECURITY LAPSE COMPARED TO EARLIER TIMES :
Due to this security lapse if not taken care of would have caused us a huge loss to our country. We lost our past Prime Minister also due to security lapse only named
• INDIRA GANDHI
• LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI
Our Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated at 9:29 am on 31 October 1984 at her residence in Safdarjung Road, New Delhi. She was killed by her Sikh bodyguards Satwant Singh and Beant Singh in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star. This was also caused due to breach of security. If proper measures would have taken at that time then this loss would not have been suffered by our country. On the other hand Lal Bahadur Shastri also died only when he was in another country that too because a proper security was not there beside him to save him. He was sleeping on his bed that night when he died and it was only on that day that all the weird things were happening with him, as his doctor got changed, he drank milk in different class and many other things. This was the third time that we would have lost our Prime Minister because of this security lapse. Many news are highlighted these days that “ this security lapse is rarest of rare”. There can’t be any compromise concerning his security in any circumstances. And the security breach that happened this time during visit to Punjab on flyover road visit is serious issue.
CONCLUSION :
A serious action has been taken in regard with this security lapse caused to our honourable Prime Minister. An FIR has been lodged, the Punjab government has also formed a two member panel to probe this breach. The Supreme Court after hearing a petition instructed the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana HC to “ seize and secure” all documents related to Prime Minister’s visit. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday demanded the imposition of President’s rule in Punjab over the security breach involving Prime Minister. Even Union Minister passed a statement on this security lapse and termed it as ‘criminal conspiracy’. Strict action will be taken against this in order to avoid future problems.
REFERENCES :
- https://www.indiatoday.in
- https://www.thequint.com
- https://www.mid-day.com
- https://www.bbc.com
- https://www.livelaw.in
- https://www.indiatvnews.com
- www.outlookindia.com
- www.timesofindia.com
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