The brouhaha surrounding the lapse in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security arrangements during his recent visit to Punjab is yet to subside. The Prime Minister’s convoy was left stranded on a flyover for around 20 minutes, near Ferozepur in Punjab, not far from the Pakistan border.
While probe committees were set up both by the Centre and the Punjab government and the apex court of the country promptly intervened in the matter, what is unfortunate is the extreme politicization of an issue concerning national security. There is no denying a lapse of security on the part of the Punjab government despite repeated denials by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. With campaigning for assembly elections in the state having begun, he is looking for ways to wriggle out of a tight situation. But that may not be easy.
As it is, the Prime Minister’s security is governed by the Blue Book and the Special Protection Group (SPG), an elite commando force, is tasked with his protection. Arrangements for PM’s security begin at least three days in advance of his visit to a state. Not only his travel route, but even the venues where he holds meetings and programmes are completely sanitized by SPG men.
But all this is done in coordination with the state police and the intelligence bureau. They are supposed to keep a close watch on the situation and provide minute-by-minute inputs to the SPG. In this case the Prime Minister, who had landed at Bhatinda, was supposed to fly to Ferozepur but was forced to change his plans due to bad weather.
Such changes in PM’s travel plans are not surprising. In fact, they are routine as alternate routes and modes of conveyance are kept ready for him. In this case, the decision to reach Ferozepur’s Hussainiwala by road was taken after due consultation with the state police. Hence the appearance of protesting farmers at the overbridge near Ferozepur and the consequent road blockade can only be described as a serious breach of security. What is worse is that the state police deployed at the spot remained practically mute spectators to what was happening at the flyover where PM’s convoy remained stranded for full 20 minutes.
The Punjab government, instead of trying to shift the blame, should gracefully accept its mistake and apologize to the Prime Minister. However, instead of doing that, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has been indulging in all kinds of antics. He has accused the Centre of trying to tarnish the image of his state and questioning the greatness of Punjabiyat. Sidhu needs to be reminded that the failure of his party’s government in the state is no credit to Punjabiyat or anything associated with it.
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