Unpardonable Lapse in PM’s security: The Congress Conspiracy

The serious security lapse during the January 5 visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Punjab can best be described as the conspiracy hatched by the Congress party to physically eliminate him. Look at the message he sent for Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. “Tell your CM that I could safely come out of the danger”, the Prime Minister asked the accompanying Punjab Government officials before leaving for New Delhi. And this message has many feathers to see and understand for the common people.

 

 

 

When the Prime Minister is visiting the state it is the responsibility of the state government to makefull proof safety and security arrangements. Though Punjab does not have a BJP or BJP-friendly party government, the visiting dignitary was not just a party leader; he was the Prime Minister of the country of which Punjab is one of the states. Hence, this security lapse is unpardonable, unforgivable and calls for hefty punishment to the guilty however high ranking they may be. In fact, the President should have dismissed this erring and ‘care-me-not’ loudmouth chief minister and his government soon after the incident.

 

The country had seen one prime minister in the past that imposed the emergency and held the nation to ransom just because a High Court had ruled against her election! And here is the state machinery involved in this serious security lapse that could have cost the life of a Prime Minister! And yet the Central Government has just sought a ‘report’ on the lapses from the state government!!

 

This is probably the first case of a security breach involving none other than the Prime Minister of a country whose popularity graph is going up by every coming day –locally and globally. The Congress party’s hatred, disgust, contempt and disdain is an open secret. But that these frustrated party leaders will stoop to this abysmal low was probably beyond everybody’s imagination.

 

That the Prime Minister as a top leader of the BJP should visit the poll-bound state of Punjab to address the public meeting and to launch development projects was not a program that was decided in haste. It must have been planned in advance and hence the Punjab Government must have the idea of Modi’s tour and places he would be visiting. Such a security lapse did not happen in the past even in states which were ruled by the parties that were in opposition of the party at the Centre. This has happened in Punjab for the first time and thus it raises serious question marks on our federal structure and the Constitution also.

 

The Prime Minister was supposed to inaugurate some of the completed development works and perform bhumipujan of some new works at Firozpur in Punjab. He was also expected to visit Hussainiwala just 20 km from the Pakistan border and pay homage to the soldiers at the memorial. As per the schedule program he landed at Bhatinda airport. From there he was supposed to take a chopper for Huseniwala but due to inclement weather conditions, he opted for the road trip and that too after the Punjab Police gave a green signal for the same.

Once the green signal was given it was the responsibility of the Punjab police to ensure safety and security of the Prime Minister and his cavalcade. Since the itinerary was decided after discussion with them, the Punjab Police were the only ones who had a complete idea of the PM's route. But what happened was surprising. The Punjab Police did not ensure security and allowed the demonstrators to reach and block the road. This was a criminal lapse and neglect on their part.

 

As the Prime Minister’s cavalcade crossed a 30 km distance towards Huseniwala, his convoy was halted due to road blockade by buses, tractors and other vehicles on a flyover from where his location could be easily made vulnerable. Some television channels showed clippings of mobile videos conveying PM’s location. The State Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi did not attend the Prime Minister at the airport under the guise of the corona pandemic. The Chief Secretary and the State DGP also did not show up in the PM's convoy when the vehicles marked for them were there. The state police deployed for PM’s security were seen enjoying tea and snacks with those who blocked the PM’s cavalcade. The PM waited for 20 minutes at the flyover and finally made a decision to call off the visit and go back. That was the wisest decision taken as per the given situation.

 

The most pertinent question is how these agitators reached the flyover through which the PM was to pass? How did they get the details of the PM itinerary?

 

The state government does not absolve itself from this serious security lapse either because maintaining law and order is the responsibility and duty of the state government. The Chief Minister is answerable for this lapse. And since he belonged to the Congress party that ruled this country for nearly seven decades, the party must seek the apology of the entire nation. But how did the party leaders react?

 

The most loudmouth spokesperson of the Congress party, the ‘chamcha’ of Rahul Gandhi, Randip Surjewala commented that since there was no crowd at the meeting the PM had to ‘cancel’ his tour. Another state level party leader blurted in a TV discussion shamelessly saying that ‘the prime minister was not hurt’. Do you want the PM to be made a victim of the mob fury?

 

Congress top brass are maintaining ‘studied silence’ on this episode. Where are Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra? Why did no reaction come from them on the ‘lapse’ on part of their party chief minister and the government? But for Sunil Jakhad no Congress leader worth his salt criticized the Punjab Chief Minister for endangering the life of our Prime Minister.

 

This is serious, more serious than the security breach. If this trend is allowed to persist, it will certainly make a dent in our democratic polity. The people must understand this Congress Conspiracy and reject the party ‘lock, stock and barrell’.