New Delhi: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday announced that it has constituted a committee to probe the “serious lapses in the security arrangements” during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab’s Ferozepur.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ferozepur was called off on Wednesday citing a major security lapse. The PM was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes due to the road being blocked by some protesters, the MHA had stated.
On Twitter, Home Ministry informed that it has constituted a committee to probe the serious lapses in the security arrangements during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Ferozepur, “which led to the exposure of the VVIP to grave security risk”.
It was further stated that the three-member committee will be led by Sudhir Kumar Saxena, Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat while comprising of Balbir Singh, Joint Director, IB and S. Suresh, IG, SPG.
“The committee is advised to submit the report at the earliest,” the statement read.
The announcement comes after Centre indicated that some big and tough decisions will be taken after the Union Home Ministry gathers information in the matter.
While addressing a press conference in Delhi, Union minister Anurag Thakur said: “The home ministry has also spoken about taking action. After gathering information, whatever steps... big and tough decisions will be taken by it”.
“It is my firm belief that the country’s judicial system does justice to everyone and when such mistakes happen, whatever steps need to be taken will be taken,” he added.
The Union cabinet reportedly discussed on Thursday the issue of security breach and several ministers expressing concern over the development and seeking “exemplary action” in the matter.
“A number of ministers also felt that there should be exemplary action in the matter, so that such events are never repeated again. They also said that never before has a prime minister's security been compromised in this manner,” a minister told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
Earlier in the day, PM Narendra Modi on Thursday briefed President Ram Nath Kovind on the security breach that stalled his Punjab visit.
“President Ram Nath Kovind met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today and received from him a first-hand account of the security breach in his convoy in Punjab yesterday. The President expressed his concerns about the serious lapse,” the President’s Office tweeted.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi claimed that what happened in Ferozepur wasn’t a security threat but a “gimmick” aimed at imposing President's Rule on the state.
Taking an aggressive stand at a public meeting in Hoshiarpur’s Tanda, he maintained that the security threat claim was cheap theatrics that did not behove a leader of the PM’s stature, PTI reported.
The Punjab CM continued to claim that PM Modi cancelled his trip because of the thin crowd at the rally venue, and there was a conspiracy to defame the state.
“Yesterday’s gimmick by the PM and his coterie is aimed at imposing President Rule in the state,” he said, as reported by PTI.
The Punjab Chief Minister’s remarks came hours after his government announced a two-member committee to conduct a “thorough probe” into the episode.
Notably, the Supreme Court will on Friday hear a plea seeking a thorough investigation into the security breach. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana had taken note of senior advocate Maninder Singh’s submission on the issue.
(With Agency Inputs)