Major Security Lapse In PM Modi’s Punjab Visit

What has happened?

In a stern letter, the Ministry of Home Affairs on Wednesday, January 5, alleged a “major lapse in the security of PM Narendra Modi” who was in Punjab to attend some events.

It alleged that the Punjab government failed to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road.
PM Modi’s cavalcade was stuck on a flyover on Wednesday after the road was blocked by protesting farmers.
As PM Modi’s car remained stuck on the flyover, SPG personnel sprung into action and surrounded his car to prevent any untoward incident.

Top government sources said, “What was witnessed on the flyover was a surprising scene of connivance between Punjab police and so-called protestors.
Only the Punjab Police knew the precise route of the Prime Minister.
Never has such police behavior been witnessed.
This is the single biggest lapse in security of any Indian Prime Minister in recent years.”

PM Modi was slated to go to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter.
But due to rain and poor visibility, it was decided that he would travel by road, which would take more than 2 hours.
“He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of security arrangements were made by the DGP Punjab Police,” the MHA said.
“Around 30 km away from National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protesters.
The PM was stuck on the flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of PM.”

The Special Protection Group (SPG) is an agency of the Government of India whose sole responsibility is protecting the PM of India.
It was formed in 1988 by an Act of the Parliament of India.
The SPG protects the Prime Minister at all times both in India and abroad, as well as the Prime Minister’s immediate family members residing with them at their official residence.
Family members, however, may decline security.
Previously, the SPG’s mandate included protecting the Prime Minister’s “parents, wife (sic)and children” resident anywhere in India during their term of office and for five years after leaving office.
However, the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Act, 2019 reduced such mandate.
Currently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only SPG protectee.

While almost all farmer unions have ended their protests after the farm laws’ repeal, Punjab’s biggest farm union – BKU (Ugrahan) – is still protesting.
There are indefinite dharnas being staged by the union in 15 districts, including 12 deputy commissioners (DCs) offices and n4 SDM offices, since December 20.
The union says that these dharnas are against both Centre as well as the states government for pushing farming into distress.
Apart from this they said that they burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 649 villages across the state on Monday ahead of his January 5 rally in Ferozepur.
The farm outfit said that repealing of three farm laws by the Centre does not mean that farmers’ problems have been solved.
On Monday, CM postponed a meeting with the group for the third time.
The union claims that CM Charanjit Singh Channi is taking farmer issues in a casual manner.

There are six major demands of the farmers, which the CM had assured to implement during the brief meeting held on December 23.
These include compensation for damaged crop, compensation to families of deceased farmers who died during kisan andolan and job to the kin.
Compensation and job to one member of the families of farmers who committed suicide, demand of guaranteed purchase of all crops on MSP,
Withdrawal of criminal cases slapped on farmers and others while participating in kisan andolan and waiver of all kinds of government and non-government loans on farmers and farm workers.

Q) Which among the following is correct regarding security protection given to individuals?