Finance
By: Shree1news, 05 JAN 2022
PM Modi was stuck on a flyover for nearly 20 minutes after the road was blocked by some protesters, the Union home ministry said in a statement.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first rally in poll-bound Punjab, scheduled to take place in Ferozepur on Wednesday, has been cancelled. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that there was a security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab. The PM was stuck on a flyover for nearly 20 minutes after the road was blocked by some protesters, the ministry said in a statement.
PM Modi landed in Bathinda this morning and was supposed to travel to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter after incessant rain and poor visibility.
When the weather didn’t improve, the ministry said, a decision was taken that the Prime Minister will visit the memorial via road, adding that this journey would have taken more than two hours. “He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation on security arrangements by the DGP, Punjab Police,” it further said.
“However, around 30kms away from the National Martyrs’ Memorial, when the convoy reached flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors. The PM was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of PM,” the MHA detailed.
Calling it a massive breach, the Centre said that the SPG is responsible for proximate security but overall security must be ensured by state police. “Farmers’ intention to protest was made clear a few days ago. It didn’t come as a surprise. Yet no step was taken to sanitise the route that PM was to take as is the protocol,” it added.
“After this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda airport. Government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which were clearly not deployed. After this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda airport,” the statement concluded, also saying that a report has been sought from the Punjab government to fix responsibility for this lapse and for action to be taken.
