PM Security Breach Live Updates: Punjab Govt Forms High-Level Committee To Probe PM Security Lapse, SC To Hear Matter Tomorrow

Taking note of the PM security breach that hit the headlines on Wednesday, the Punjab government has constituted a two-member high-level committee to probe the matter. The security lapse was reported during the Prime Minister’s visit to Ferozepur, Punjab.

After being stranded for over 15 minutes at the bridge near Ferozepur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled the rally and decided to turn back. The road was allegedly blocked by the protesting farmers.

The committee comprises Retired judge Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and Principal Secretary, Home Affairs and Justice, Anurag Verma.

“In order to carry out a thorough probe into the lapses that occurred during the Prime Minister’s visit to Ferozepur yesterday, the Punjab government has constituted a high-level committee,” said a government spokesperson.

The committee is directed to submit the report within three days.

Charanjit Singh Channi A Ringleader Of This Conspiracy: Punjab BJP President Rejects Committee

Punjab BJP President Ashwani Sharma said, ” We reject the committee set up by the Punjab government to investigate this matter. This committee formed by the Chief Minister will never be able to find out anything because he himself is the ringleader of this conspiracy.”

He further stated that he had requested the governor to suspend the Home Minister and DGP of the state. “The protocols were not followed to receive the PM. Who leaked the Prime Minister’s route?” added Sharma.

Sr. Advocate Maninder Singh Seeks Probe, Supreme Court To Hear PM Security Breach Matter On Friday

Senior advocate Maninder Singh has mentioned the matter before the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana in the Supreme Court, terming it a serious lapse on the part of the Punjab government.

He has sought a thorough probe into the security breach for stalling PM’s cavalcade and also seeks directions to the Bhatinda district court judge to take possession of all the evidence related to the police arrangements for the visit.

“It was a serious lapse on the part of the Punjab government to allow the PM’s cavalcade to be stranded on the road causing unacceptable security breach, which should be probed thoroughly under the SC supervision given the political situation in the state,” the PIL said.

Hearing the matter, CJI asked Singh what is he expecting from the court and also about whether the security breach took place in Ferozepur or Bhatinda.

“The security lapse was clearly intentional and raises a serious question as to national security and the role played by the present political dispensation in Punjab,” stated the plea by Lawyers Voice.

“Considering present situation in Punjab, highest standards of security arrangements was imperative for PM. As per protocol, car for chief secretary or DGP is mandated to join PM’s motorcade. However, neither CS nor DGP or their representative joined PM’s motorcade,” the PIL said.

It is also alleged that private persons were given access to the PM’s route, and others were instigated to join the blockade, which represents a serious and unpardonable breach of national security by the State apparatus and the political establishment of Punjab.

Thanks To Punjab CM That At Least I reached Bhatinda Airport Alive, Says PM Modi

Why PM Modi Cancelled His Ferozepur Visit In Between? What is PM Security Breach?

PM Modi landed at Bhisiana airport at 10.20 am and waited for almost 30 minutes to let the weather get clear. Then, he decided to go to the Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial in Ferozepur (122 km away from the airport) by road at 11.15 am.

When PM’s convoy reached a flyover near Piareana village, it found the road blocked with buses and protesters. The protesters were claimed to be the members of Bhartiya Kisan Union Krantikari who were protesting against PM Modi’s visit to Ferozepur.

After waiting for over 15 minutes on the bridge, PM’s cavalcade decided to turn back at around 1.20 pm.

It was reported that PM Modi told the Bhatinda airport officials, “Apne CM ko thanks kehna, ki mein Bhatinda airport tak zinda laut paaya (Thank your Chief Minister that I could make it alive to the Bhatinda airport).”

PM Modi was on his way to lay the foundation stones of the development projects worth over Rs 42,750 crore. The projects include Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway, a PGIMER satellite centre, four-laning of the Amritsar-Una section, Mukerian-Talwara broad gauge railway line and two new medical colleges at Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur.

70000 Chairs Arranged, Only 700 People Turned Up: Security Breach A Political Drama, BJP Cancelled Rally Over Thin Crowd, Says Congress

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has denied any allegations about the security breach, calling it merely a political drama. He stated that the party cancelled the event due to thin attendance at the rally.

The state government has deployed 10,000 security personnel for the rally.

Congress Communication Department head Randeep Surjewala said,

“Punjab today witnessed an unprecedented political drama by the BJP which has loss written on its face. The BJP has been rejected by the people of Punjab and is being rejected by the people of UP and also other election-going states. Fearing complete wipe out in the five states, the BJP has tried to create a political drama of a so-called breach in the security of the Prime Minister. We reject the charge completely and comprehensively.

The Prime Minister was to travel to Ferozepur in a helicopter…As there were hardly any people at the rally venue…and when the Prime Minister and the BJP came to know about it…they were deeply unnerved. And in order to gain some more time or to find an excuse the Prime Minister decided at the last minute to travel by road to Hussainiwala and then to the rally venue. Since he is the Prime Minister, it is his discretion.

Necessary route was again deployed by the Punjab police. As the Prime Minister was proceeding, the farmers of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee…a few hundred of them…they blocked the road. As the police were clearing them, the Prime Minister’s carcade had to wait for about 15 minutes. The Prime Minister did not wait, returned and then said it was a security breach…What should the police have done…If the farmers suddenly came and they blocked the road to protest against the Prime Minister and the BJP…Should they have been shot dead? Should the police have fired and killed all the farmers…or should the police have physically removed them as they were trying to do.

To do anything else is unreasonable. How is that a security breach. And that also when the Prime Minister was not supposed to travel by road. He decided so at the last minute. In garb thereof, the Prime Minister cancelled the rally. The rally was actually cancelled because there were empty chairs and there was nobody there to listen to the Prime Minister.

But the Prime Minister got an opportunity, the BJP got an opportunity to cancel the rally. We would urge the BJP and the Government…let’s play politics but let’s not bring down the prestige of the office of the Prime Minister…The Prime Minister is welcome to come to Punjab. We will ensure all security…The Congress has sacrificed prime ministers…we know how important the security of the Prime Minister.

Responding to the reports that Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi didn’t respond to the SOS calls, Surjewala said that the state government cannot be held responsible for the last minute change.

“The SPG is solely responsible for the Prime Minister’s security. Other agencies merely support it. The SPG had to make an assessment as to whether the PM should take that route. The Punjab government was merely informed that the Prime Minister will now travel by road and arrangements were made accordingly,” said Surjewala.

Security Breach Merely Claims To Divert Attention From Flop Rally: Navjot Singh Sidhu

Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has also called the claims about security lapse is a way to divert attention from the flop rally.

“PM Modi’s ego is hurt as no one came to attend his rally in Punjab. Modi did not meet the farmers for more than a year, that is why Punjabis also did not listen to Modi. BJP is just trying to find ways to cover up the fact that their rally in Punjab was a total flop,” tweeted Punjab Congress wing.

“Exercise Restraint”: State Govt To Police

As per the sources, Punjab Director General of Police, Siddharth Chattopadhyaya was in favour of using force to disperse the protesters but was directed to use restraint.

Didn’t Prepare A Contingency Plan, Punjab Police Ignored ‘Blue Book’ Rules: MHA

A senior Ministry of Home Affairs official alleged that Punjab police had failed to follow the ‘Blue Book’ rules and had not prepared a contingency route for the Prime Minister’s visit.

Special Protection Group’s (SPG) Blue Book lays down the guidelines that need to be followed for the protection of the PM.

“As per the Blue Book, the state police have to prepare contingency route for the protectee in case of any adverse situation like the one that happened in Punjab during PM’s visit,” said MHA official.

He added that the Intelligence Bureau officials were in contact with Punjab Police and have alerted them regarding protesters movement and Punjab Police officers assured them of complete protection to the VIP.

“Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel remain in close proximity to the PM while the rest of the security measures are taken care of by the state government. In case of any sudden developments, the state police update SPG and the movement of VIP are changed accordingly,” he added.

What Is SPG and Blue Book? How PM Security Is Planned?

Special Protection Group is the agency of the Government of India which is deployed to protect the Prime Minister of India. It was constituted in 1988 under an Act of Parliament of India and was amended in 2019.

The Group protects the PM in India as well as abroad. As per the previous law, SPG mandate is to protect the Prime Minister’s “parents, wife (sic) and children” during their term of office and for five years after leaving office. But after the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Act, 2019, the mandate was reduced.

SPG is headquartered in Dwarka, New Delhi. There are over 3,000 active employees and its annual budget is ₹592.5 crore.

The Group includes both – men and women. It draws its personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (such as the Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police) and the Railway Protection Force Service.

All the volunteers are picked after a rigorous, three-tier screening process. The SPG personnel are always dressed in black, Western-style formal business suits, with sunglasses, and carry a two-way encrypted communication earpiece, and concealed handguns.

SPG follows the Blue Book which lays down the guidelines to protect the Prime Minister. It is issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

As per the Blue Book, it is mandatory for SPG to hold an Advance Security Liaison with everyone involved in securing the event, including Intelligence Bureau officials in the concerned state, state police officials and the concerned district magistrate, three days before any visit by the prime minister.

During the meeting, the Group discusses the PM’s travel, how he will be escorted and decisions are taken along with the inputs of the central and local intelligence.

Contingency plans are made keeping in view the emergency situation at every level.

The convoy is also pre-planned which includes an advanced pilot warning vehicle as the first car, technical car followed by the VVIP car and the ambulance along with other cars. The convoy also has a spare car.

Punjab Cops Enjoying Tea With Protesters Instead Of Clearing The Crowd, Video Goes Viral

Punjab police received backlash after a video of them having sips of tea with the protesters went viral. They were criticized for enjoying with the protesters instead of helping in clearing the crowd from the route.

“We Thought Police Was Lying”: BKU Krantikari Took Responsibility For Blocking PM’s Convoy

Bhartiya Kisan Union Krantikari has admitted that they are responsible for blocking the road. Surjit Singh Phool, chief of Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) said that the police informed them that the PM is coming by road but they thought that the police might be lying.

“There were 12 or 13 organizations from Punjab which had decided to protest. The reason behind the protest was that despite the government assurance, no committee has been formed on MSP, no compensation has been given to farmers who died in protests against the three farm laws and no action has been taken against MoS Home (accused in Lakhimpur Kheri violence),” Phool said.

He added, “At about 2 pm, we learnt that the PM would be coming by road from Bathinda. There was a big helipad near the rally. And the police said he is coming by road. So we thought that the police are lying and that PM would be coming by air. That is why we did not clear the road. We said you are lying.”

The Union said that police had tried to remove the protesters first but could not. “We did not clear the road. We do not know how his programme was changed. We would have emptied the road if we were convinced that he was coming by road. It was a confusion,” Phool added.

When asked about any intention to apologize for the same, Phool said, “Can’t we protest? It is our democratic right. Whatever we have done, we have done the right thing.”

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