PM security lapse 'sponsored' by Punjab Government : Himachal CM

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 12

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said the lapse in the security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not spontaneous but ‘sponsored’ by the Punjab Government, which had asked the police not to act or remove protesters.

Addressing a press conference here, Thakur said the security lapse was part of a pre-planned conspiracy by the government. “What is most unfortunate is that the lapse happened despite the Punjab Police as well as intelligence agencies having prior knowledge of the protest,” he said. The CID wing as well as central intelligence had given information to the government of a possible protest days before the PM’s visit.

“A high-level committee has been constituted to probe the lapses and fix responsibility. I demand that the strictest action be taken against those who erred in performing their duty. The fact that the PM’s cavalcade was obstructed for almost 20 minutes on the flyover, which is barely 10 km from the Pakistan border, is a cause for concern,” he said. Anything could have happened as this place was within the range of Pakistan.

Thakur said the Punjab Government behaved in an irresponsible manner. It had knowledge that an organisation, the Sikh for Justice, and one of its leaders were announcing a cash prize for anyone who would insult the PM.

He said the DSP and the SHO of the area had admitted that they had apprised the SSP about the possibility of a blockade and a protest in advance and kept him informed about the developments minute to minute.

“The police officials had revealed that there were clear cut directions from the government not to stop the protesters, which resulted in the PM’s life being put to threat,” he said.

Thakur said it was for the first time that any state government had shown this kind of laxity in ensuring the security of the PM. “We must not forget that Modi is not just the PM of the country, but the most popular leader of the world,” he said.

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