Home Ministry forms three-member committee to probe into PM Modi's security lapses

The committee will be led by Sudhir Kumar Saxena, Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat.

The ministry has post a couple of tweets that read, "Ministry of Home Affairs(MHA) has constituted a committee to enquire into the serious lapses in the security arrangements during Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to Ferozepur, Punjab on 05.01.2022,which led to the exposure of the VVIP to grave security risk."

"The three-member committee will be led by Shri Sudhir Kumar Saxena, Secretary (Security), Cabinet Secretariat and comprising (composed) of Shri Balbir Singh, Joint Director, IB and Shri S. Suresh, IG, SPG.

"The committee is advised to submit the report at the earliest."

The Prime Minister was going to Bhatinda to visit the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter.

Due to rain and poor visibility, the Prime Minister waited for 15-20 minutes for the weather to clear out.

Since the bad weather condition continued, it was decided the Prime minister would visit the National Martyrs Memorial via road.

When the Prime Minister's cavalcade reached the flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors owing to which he was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes.

"This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's schedule and travel plan was communicated well in advance to the Punjab Government.

"As per procedure, they have to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready," the Home Ministry's statement said.

The matter has now reached Supreme Court and the case has been posted for hearing on Friday.

The incident has sparked a blame game between the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, which governs Punjab.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday lashed out at the Congress tweeted, "Today’s Congress-made happening in Punjab is a trailer of how this party thinks and functions. Repeated rejections by the people have taken them to the path of insanity. The topmost echelons of the Congress owe an apology to the people of India for what they have done."

Calling the whole incident as a political drama, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, "Clear Reply to those enacting “Political Drama” of “Security Breach” in PM’s security

"Is it the job of Congress Govt to fetch people for PM’s rally? BJP should own up loss of face among famers & people of Punjab instead of enacting Political Drama."