Prime Minister`s itinerary and the minutest security details are very meticulously discussed, finalized and documented by the Central agencies in close coordination with the SPG. The entire exercise involves Central and State agencies. In a “major security lapse”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy was stranded on Bhatinda flyover, en route to Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district, due to a blockade by protesters on January 5, 2022. The incident forced the PM to cancel his rally and other development oriented projects of over Rs 42,000 crore that were to be flagged off in poll-bound Punjab. While words like security lapse and security breach were repeatedly used by various stakeholders, post the January 5th incident, the hard truth is, the SPG is only responsible as per the Blue Book, for proximate security, which basically means the immediate cordon around the PM. The SPG elite commando force forms the innermost security cordon around the PM wherever he goes, but even the perimeter of that cordon is decided by the respective State government when the PM visits any given State. While the SPG has the responsibility for PM’s security, given that the perimeter routes and the areas which the PM visits are secured by the concerned State police, it is clear that CM Channi, his entire State machinery and the DGP of Punjab, failed miserably in performing their duties. What made it even worse was Channi’s callous attitude, post the security sabotage. Why did CM Channi fail to take ownership of the massive security failure surrounding the Prime Minister? Is Channi fit to be the CM of a border State, post the happenings on January 5, 2022 ? The answer is a vehement, No!
That the PM’s security was not merely breached in this case, but that there was a sabotage bordering on criminal conspiracy, is evident from the fact that within less than 100 meters of the buffer zone, a large group of protesters had gathered. Who allowed these miscreants and vandals from BKU (Krantikari), which had been banned in 2014 for having links with Maoists, to gather there, near the buffer zone, right on the eve of PM’s convoy that was scheduled to pass through that particular area? Who leaked the itinerary of PM? If it takes between 45 minutes to an hour to mobilize protesters, as is being suggested by various police officials, how is it that for an hour when these protesters were being mobilized, the Punjab police was unaware? Why did the DGP give wrong inputs to the SPG that the area from which PM’s convoy was slated to pass through,had been properly sanitized? Did the senior officials of Punjab police not see the crowd of vandals that had gathered near the Bhatinda flyover, before blatantly lying to the SPG that the said area was safe?
Why did CM Channi not respond to umpteen efforts that were made via telephone calls and otherwise, post the dangerous and shameful security breach? Finally, the buck stops at the doorstep of the Chief Minister, in matters pertaining to law and order in that given State, as per the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. What kept CM Channi so busy that he chose to wilfully and deliberately not respond to phone calls from the PMO? How can the CM of a State blatantly and deliberately not respond to phone calls in matters pertaining to security of the highest elected office of the land, the office of the Prime Minister, in this case? PMO is an institution in itself and this was not just about the Prime Minister’s security alone. By putting to risk the PM, why did Channi choose to risk the security of the entire nation? A PM eventually represents the popular will of the entire nation, via a democratic process. On whose behest did Channi put in harm’s way the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi? How is it that each time Rahul Gandhi vanishes and goes abroad, some or the other untoward incident happens in India? Was there a Pakistani or Khalistani element in this conspiracy to sabotage the PM’s security? Why did Rahul Gandhi not offer sympathy or empathy which is what a mature Opposition leader is expected to do,post such a massive security lapse,in a State where the Congress is in power?But then,maturity is an anathema to Rahul Gandhi and he has shown his political immaturity bordering on the vile,on more than one occasion.
On the defensive, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi at a press conference (PC) denied there was any security lapse or political motive behind it and said his government was ready for an inquiry. Let no one forget that Channi in the last few months has showcased why he is a rudderless, clueless and incompetent CM, unfit to govern a State like Punjab, which shares approximately a 366 km border with Pakistan. Right from the word go, Channi flouted every rule in the rulebook. Why did Channi, the Punjab DGP or Punjab’s Chief Secretary who directly reports into CM Channi, not receive Prime Minister Modi at the Airport? Channi’s lame excuse that he had been in close contact with a Covid positive person and hence he avoided receiving the PM, is a snarky lie. If COVID protocol is indeed something Channi was so worried about, why did he address an over 30 minute long press conference, without even wearing a mask, the very same day? If COVID protocol weighed on Channi’s mind, why was he hobnobbing with reporters from a media-house, within less than 24 hours of the “security breach”?
Barely 14 days prior to the PM’s visit on Jan 5, 2022, there was a powerful bomb blast within the premises of the Ludhiana Court. Also, Ferozepur in the last few months has been the victim of drone drops and tiffin bomb blasts. Given that CM Channi was well aware of the hostile scenario prevalent in and around Ferozepur, why did Channi not ensure stringent security? Security apparatus should have, in fact, been doubled up on a war footing ahead of the PM’s visit. Instead, the PM’s safety, security, and stature were shamefully compromised by the Chief Minister of Punjab in a glaring reminder of how the Congress Party is driven by nothing but visceral hate for PM Modi. This visceral angst and animosity for Modi is driven by the Congress Party’s growing political irrelevance and dwindling political fortunes, given the resounding defeats that the Congress faced both in the Lok Sabha 2014 and 2019 elections.
How PM’s security is planned? An Advanced Security Liaison (ASL) is carried out by the SPG which requires maintaining every minute detail of the Prime Minister’s itinerary. This exercise involves officials of the Intelligence Bureau in the concerned State, police officials and the district magistrate of the concerned State, and the DGP of the concerned State. Whenever the PM visits a State, the local police maintain this minute-to-minute programme under the complete supervision and knowledge of the concerned CM of the concerned State. Hence for Channi to feign ignorance about PM’s itinerary and any change in plans thereof,smacks of the Punjab CM’s incompetence and devious sense of entitlement, bordering on recklessness.
As part of the ASL, the entire route of the PM’s entourage and the venue is supposed to be completely sanitized by the State police force and clearance is issued by the head of the State DGP, who also gives necessary inputs to the SPG. Other safety measures by the State police, entail anti-sabotage checks, frisking of people who would be allowed to sit in close proximity to the PM and related measures Clearly,Punjab DGP, his team and CM Channi, failed woefully on all these counts.
Broad guidelines have been laid down in what is referred to as the SPG’s Blue Book. Three days before any planned visit, the SPG officials carry out a mandatory ASL with everyone involved in securing the event. Once the PM’s itinerary is discussed and an ASL report is prepared, all security arrangements are made by the concerned State, keeping the SPG informed. According to the laid down rules, an alternative arrangement during a VVIP’s visit has to be ensured. Officials in the know of the rules say that “if a VVIP is scheduled to travel by air within a state, an alternate route through land has also to be ensured in case of exigencies”. The internal memos written by ADG law and order, Punjab, to senior State police officials on the 1st, 2nd and 4th of January 2022, clearly shows that a contingency plan had been made in case the PM chose to travel not by helicopter, but by road. Why then did CM Channi lie that there was no alternative contingency plan and that the security lapse happened as the PM had not informed about a change in his plan? It is evident from internal memos that Channi is lying and the security breach happened despite the existence of a contingency plan simply because of the criminal apathy and absolutely irresponsible behaviour of Channi and his team. If the PM is taking the land route, then it is the responsibility of the State police to keep the route safe for the PM’s travel. Several contingency plans are also prepared in case of an emergency situation forcing a last-minute change in the PM’s itinerary. However, in normal circumstances, route, security deployment is pre-decided by the State police force and shared with the SPG. During public meetings, rallies and road shows, apart from policemen, an SP is deputed to post men in plainclothes for security. In case of an air travel, at least one alternative road route (if not more) is kept ready. At least 24 hours before PM’s arrival, a full rehearsal is also carried out from the airport/airstrip to the venue to avoid any untoward incident and to ensure a safe visit of PM. It has emerged now that a day in advance a rehearsal was carried out on 4th January 2022. How did the security sabotage happen despite the rehearsal?
The Union Home ministry besides summoning the Punjab DGP,has asked the Punjab government to fix responsibility for the lapse and take strict action. “The tactics used by the Congress government in Punjab would pain anyone who believes in democratic principles,” said BJP’s National President, JP Nadda in a tweet.
To sum up, the entire security sabotage, due to rain and poor visibility, the Prime Minister waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out. When the weather did not improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Martyrs Memorial via road, which would take more than two hours. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements, by the DGP, Punjab police.
Around 30 kms away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the Prime Minister’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors. The Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister, as anything could have happened in those crucial 20 minutes.
The Prime Minister’s schedule and travel plan was communicated well in advance to the Punjab Government. As per procedure, they had to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready. Also, in view of the contingency plan which had already been rehearsed on the 4th of January 2022, the Punjab Government had to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, but clearly additional forces were not deployed. Why? On whose behest was this criminal negligence allowed to happen? In a viral video, a BKU-Krantikari leader Surjeet Singh Phool can be seen addressing some protesters and instigating them, with the police constabulary watching as mute spectators. Why? Will Channi answer and bear ownership rather than simply playing to the galleries? In PM Modi’s security sabotage issue, the Supreme Court has asked the Punjab government for communication and travel records to be preserved.
The Court said, “We deem it appropriate to direct the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court to secure and preserve the travel records of PM Modi.”
“We direct Punjab police authorities, SPG and other agencies to cooperate and provide necessary assistance to seal the entire record,” the Court said. The Supreme Court has also agreed to the Centre’s suggestion to tweak the existing Central committee to look into the security breach issue. The Chief Justice of India said, “We can say both NIA officials and DGP Chandigarh can be appointed to the committee,” the Court added. In the final analysis, the most important question is: Why is the Congress Party brazenly undermining the office of the Prime Minister and by doing so, also undermining the integrity of our democratic institutions? Well, Rahul Gandhi, a full time vacationer and part time politician, who is being given tough competition in the area of theatrics by his colleague from Punjab, the “unstable” Navjot Singh Sidhu, has a lot to explain. It is said, the electorate is blessed with a great memory and sense of discretion. Undoubtedly, the people of India will never forgive the withered and jaded Congress Party for doing what it did on January 5, 2022. The one positive however, from the unfortunate security sabotage of Prime Minister Modi’s Punjab visit is that it has reinforced the strength of prayers and our belief in them. A nation of over a billion people stood by PM Modi, cutting aside their ideological differences, showcasing yet again why the unflappable Narendra Modi is a rare leader, who does what he does, guided always by “India First”.
The Writer is an Economist, National Spokesperson of the BJP and the Bestselling Author of ‘The Modi Gambit’. Views expressed are the writer’s personal.