Editorial: Politics over security breach

What should have been a matter strictly under the realm of security protocols has been blown out of proportion and turned into a full-fledged political war in the poll-bound State. There is no doubt that the glaring security lapse in Punjab, resulting in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cavalcade being stranded on a flyover for over […]

What should have been a matter strictly under the realm of security protocols has been blown out of proportion and turned into a full-fledged political war in the poll-bound State. There is no doubt that the glaring security lapse in Punjab, resulting in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cavalcade being stranded on a flyover for over 20 minutes, is a cause for concern and a poor reflection on the security management but the way the issue has been politicised is disquieting. The BJP leaders have seized the opportunity to garner political capital out of an unfortunate lapse and taken the Congress government to task for the unprecedented security breach. The statements made by some Congress leaders, accusing the saffron party of enacting a deliberate political drama and trying to make a mountain out of a molehill, were also in poor taste. The question here relates to the security drill for the person occupying the highest elected post in the country, an issue that should be above narrow politics. A thorough probe must be carried out to fix the responsibility for the lapse and ensure that such blunders will not recur in future. Being a sensitive border State with a history of externally-sponsored terrorism, Punjab cannot afford to be lax in terms of providing security for the VVIPs. Moreover, there are reports of Pakistan trying to foment trouble in the State, taking advantage of the turbulent situation. It is very clear that there was a lack of coordination between the State police and the Special Protection Group, responsible for the Prime Minister’s security. Modi’s convoy, which was on its way to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala in Ferozpur, close to the border with Pakistan, had to turn back after farm protesters blocked the route.

It is a sorry state of affairs that the lapse should occur despite as many as 10 Senior Superintendents of Police, along with 10 officers of similar seniority, being on duty for the PM’s visit. Those responsible for the security cover owe an answer as to how the protestors landed there when the Prime Minister was to travel on that road and why did the intervention by police happen very late. Given the long distance the convoy had to travel, the entire route should have been cleared and sanitised in advance. As per the original schedule, the PM was to go to the Hussainiwala memorial by helicopter from Bathinda airport. However, due to inclement weather, the plan was changed and the State government was informed about it. The political blame game that followed reflected a cynical approach on the part of the two major parties to exploit the situation for political benefit. While the BJP leadership is justifiably upset over the security breach, it is totally unjustified to accuse the State government of deliberate neglect.

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