New Delhi: A hearing has started in the Supreme Court in the matter of lapse in the security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The hearing is being conducted by a bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramanna, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli. Senior advocate Maninder Singh raised the issue of lapse in the security of the Prime Minister before the bench of Chief Justice NV Ramanna. During the hearing, Maninder Singh said that this is not just a law and order issue but an issue under the SPG Act.
Singh said that this is a statutory responsibility. There can be no hesitation in this. This is a national security issue, not just law and order and the state government has to comply at the statutory level. He said that this is a very serious issue and there has been a huge lapse in the security of the Prime Minister, a clear investigation is necessary for this matter, and action is also necessary against the guilty officials. Singh said that the state government does not have the authority to conduct an inquiry in this matter, this is an issue specifically related to the SPG Act and the court should conduct an inquiry in this matter.
Demand for investigation from NIA
Referring to a decision of the Supreme Court, Singh clarified that the police cannot investigate in any way in this matter. He said that the evidence from Bathinda to Ferozepur should be taken over by the local court of Bathinda and investigation should be done by NIA in this matter. The petitioner demanded the Supreme Court conduct an investigation by the NIA in the matter of the lapse in the security of the PM. The petitioner’s advocate Maninder Singh told the bench that in the matter of lapse in the security of the PM, the investigation should be done above the Center and the state and whatever evidence is provided to the local judge of Bathinda. They should be supported by an NIA-level officer.
SG called the matter seriously
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that this rarest of rare matter is very serious and should be treated on that basis. He informed the bench about the incident of lapse in the security of the PM. Also said that the incident of lapse in security has brought disrepute to the country at the international level. Then Maninder Singh said that this is not a matter related to law and order, it is a very serious matter. There should be a high-level inquiry in this matter, but this investigation should not be done from the stateside.
Maybe a case of terrorism
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that it could be a case of cross-border terrorism. He said, when the PM’s car moves, a warning car moves 500 meters ahead, his job is to see the obstacle ahead, but the police are drinking tea, they did not tell the warning car that there is a blockage on the flyover.
What is this whole matter?
PM Modi was about to reach Firozpur in Punjab to lay the foundation stone of various projects worth Rs 42,750 crore. For this, he was being taken to the National Martyrs Memorial by road as it was not possible to go by helicopter due to bad weather. But at some distance from the venue, farmers protested and blocked the road, due to which the Prime Minister’s convoy was stuck on the flyover for 15-20 minutes. He had to return after canceling his rally as the road was not empty.
Police accused of negligence
The central government said that the security agency and the state police were in touch with each other. Letters were sent from the Center to the state police, in which there was also a warning about the farmers’ dharna. Despite this, the police neither made arrangements for a safe passage for the Prime Minister nor got the road cleared. A senior Home Ministry official has accused the Punjab Police of negligence and said that it has not followed the Blue Book rules related to security. The job of the SPG is to lay siege to protect the Prime Minister, but the responsibility of protecting the rest rests with the state. The ministry has also asked the state government to submit a report on this matter.
