Delhi: Case of lapse in security of PM Modi, Center issues show cause notice to Bathinda SSP
New Delhi: Two days after the security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday issued a show cause notice to the Bathinda SSP.
A show cause notice has been issued stating that the police was found inactive at the site of the protest. On Wednesday, PM Modi was on a tour of Punjab, where his convoy was stopped at a flyover while going to Firjopur. Prime Minister’s rally in Ferozepur had to be canceled due to security lapse. There some protesters had blocked a road and Modi’s convoy was halted at a flyover for about 15-20 minutes. The Prime Minister was on his way to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala at the time of the incident.
In the notice issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Deputy Secretary in the Central Government, Archana Verma has said that since there was a serious security lapse during PM Modi’s visit, a show cause notice is given to the SSP of Bathinda as to why action should not be initiated against him. He has been asked to initiate disciplinary action under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, against him under the law in case of default.
The letter said, as provided in section 14 of the Special Protection Group (SPG), 1988, the state government and every civic authority is legally bound to provide all assistance to the SPG and, therefore, you SSP Bathinda As it was bound to do. Adequate security arrangements were made, but the information available so far indicates that the police present at the site of the picket was found to be inactive. Senior police officers present on the spot were also found ineffective in their efforts to facilitate the movement of the VVIP convoy. All the way, police were deployed just for the sake of sight.
Meanwhile, a team of the Ministry of Home Affairs probing the security breach reached the spot on Friday and ascertained why the Prime Minister’s convoy was stuck on the flyover for 15-20 minutes. According to the MHA statement, about 30 km from the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala near Firozpur, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that some protesters had blocked the road. The Prime Minister was stuck on the flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister.
Punjab Chief Secretary Anirudh Tiwari, in a report submitted to the Center, said an FIR has been registered in the incident and the state government has constituted a two-member panel to probe the lapses. Official sources said Tiwari is believed to have shared details of the sequence of events that unfolded on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday directed the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to protect and preserve all records regarding the Prime Minister’s visit to Punjab and also to refrain state and central committees from scrutinizing them till Monday. Said, because the court will continue further hearing on this matter.
