Centre seeks report from Punjab govt over security breach during PM Modi's visit to Ferozepur district

The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the Punjab government on the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ferozepur district of Punjab. Prime Minister's scheduled rally in Ferozepur district was cancelled yesterday due to breach in his security.

Taking cognisance of the incident, the Ministry has asked the state government to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action. It said, the Prime Minister landed at Bathinda yesterday morning from where he was to go to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter.

But due to rain and poor visibility, he waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out. When the weather didn't improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Marytrs Memorial via road. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police.

The Ministry said around 30 kms away from Memorial, when Mr. Modi 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 to 20 minutes which was a major lapse in the security.

The Home Ministry said, Mr. Modi's schedule and travel plan was communicated well in advance to the Punjab Government and as per procedure, it has to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready. Also in view of the contingency plan Punjab Government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which was clearly not deployed. The Ministry said, after this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda airport.

Later, taking to twitter, Home Minister Amit Shah said, such dereliction of security procedure in the Prime Minister's visit is totally unacceptable and accountability will be fixed. He said, Congress-made happening in Punjab is a trailer of how this party thinks and functions. Mr Shah said, repeated rejections by the people have taken them to the path of insanity. He said, the topmost echelons of the Congress owe an apology to the people of India for what they have done.