Reported By: Ankur Sharma
Final Up to date: March 13, 2024, 12:02 IST
PM Modi and different high-profile dignitaries are anticipated to embark on in depth nationwide excursions and maintain public conferences and rallies main as much as the elections. (PTI)
States have been instructed to sanitise routes, have back-up plans in place, and topic venues to strict safety checks as quickly because the prime minister’s programme is confirmed
The Ministry of House Affairs (MHA), in an try to stop safety breaches just like the one in Punjab involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has instructed states to meticulously plan and safe venues, routes, and backups for the prime minister’s rallies and different dignitaries’ occasions throughout election season, with superior safety measures in place.
A senior official, aware of the state of affairs, acknowledged that these directives have been issued because of previous incidents of safety lapses throughout PM Modi’s go to in 2022. The prime minister and different high-profile dignitaries are anticipated to embark on in depth nationwide excursions and maintain public conferences and rallies main as much as the 2024 normal elections.
Venue choice for these occasions is finished after finalising the schedule, and all states have been instructed to keep away from any safety breaches by making certain thorough safety measures.
The official emphasised the significance of securing venues beforehand as they are often potential targets for sabotage if left unguarded. The official mentioned there’s a danger of inimical parts concealing explosives at these venues and the potential of subverting employees concerned in organising the stage for planting improvised explosive gadgets (IEDs).
To mitigate these dangers, states have been instructed to sanitise routes, have back-up plans in place, and topic venues to strict safety checks as quickly because the prime minister’s programme is confirmed. Safety surveillance, together with anti-sabotage and explosive checks utilizing sniffer canine, ought to be performed at the least a day previous to the occasion in any respect venues.
What occurred in 2022?
In line with the Union authorities, the prime minister landed at Bathinda airport on the morning of January 5 from the place he was to go to the Nationwide Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. Nevertheless, because of rain and poor visibility, PM Modi “waited for about 20 minutes for the climate to filter. When the climate didn’t enhance, it was determined that he would go to the Nationwide Martyrs Memorial through highway, which might take greater than two hours”.
The MHA added that the prime minister “proceeded to journey by highway after essential affirmation of essential safety preparations” by the Punjab DGP. However, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, round 30 kilometres earlier than the Nationwide Martyrs Memorial, the highway was allegedly blocked by some protesters.
“The Prime Minister was caught on the flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a serious lapse within the safety of the Prime Minister,” the ministry mentioned. It added: “The Prime Minister’s schedule and journey plan was communicated nicely upfront to the Punjab Authorities. As per process, they must make essential preparations for logistics, safety in addition to hold a contingency plan prepared. Additionally in view of the contingency plan, the Punjab Authorities has to deploy extra safety to safe any motion by highway, which have been clearly not deployed. After this safety lapse, it was determined to go again to Bathinda Airport.”
