News By/Courtesy: Ayush Kumar | 11 Jan 2022 17:28pm IST

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Solicitor General Tushar Mehta labelled the security breach as
  • Was it a Severe Breach in the Prime Minister's Security or a Political Ploy?
  • Punjab Government and Police force blamed for the breach in the Prime Minister's Security.

What has been described as a significant breach in the Prime Minister's security has sparked a dramatic tug-of-war between the State and Union governments. On 5th January, the Prime Minister's cavalcade was stuck for 15-20 minutes due to a blockade by protesting farmers on his route to the National Martyrs Memorial at the Hussainiwala border crossing with Pakistan. A key charge levied by the BJP against the state administration is that it "leaked information about the Prime Minister's route."

This is not the first time, however; similar security breaches have occurred previously as well. Contrary to previous instances, the central government is confronting this security compromise head-on this time. Numerous analysts believe it is a severe breach in the Prime Minister's security. Though the approaching elections in Punjab have prompted some to view this tragedy as a "political ploy," as this incidence was not isolated. However, eminent counsel Maninder Singh filed a PIL before the Supreme Court as well. On Friday, after hearing the case, the Court directed that the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court "keep all records in his safe custody" and that the Punjab Police, the Special Protection Group (SPG), and other federal and state agencies "cooperate and supply necessary assistance" to him. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta labelled this episode in court as "rarest of rare," blaming both the Punjab government and the Punjab Police, and also referring to it as a "matter of potential worldwide disgrace."

Who is accountable for the Prime Minister's security? The Special Protection Group of the Prime Minister's security (SPG). SPG was established in 1988 under the SPG Act. It gives "coverage to the Prime Minister, previous Prime Minister, and their immediate family members for a period of up to five years after leaving office if they continue to stay in the designated residence." SPG is subordinate to the cabinet secretariat. The SPG ACT established the concept of "proximate security." which suggests "protection provided from close quarters, whether by road, rail, aircraft, watercraft, or foot, or the other mode of transport, and shall include places of functions, engagements, residence, or halt, and shall include ring-round teams, isolation cordons, the sterile zone surrounding, and the rostrum, as well as access control to the person or members of his immediate family."

The latest scandal centres on the suspected leak of the Prime Minister's route and the state government's accountability. The SPG Act makes it quite apparent that the state government is tasked with aiding SPG groups. "It shall be the duty of each Ministry and Department of the Central Government, State Governments, and Union Territory administrations, every Indian Mission, every local or other authority, and every civil or military authority, to assist the Director or any member of the Group whenever called upon to do so in furtherance of the Director's or member's assigned duties and responsibilities," the Act states. As a result, rumours indicate that the government may use the SPG Act to summon officials in Punjab.

Section Editor: Nandakishore V Menon | 14 Jan 2022 14:11pm IST


Tags : #security #breach #name #bjp #congress #punjab #elections #upelections #punjabelections #SPG # NarendraModi #Namo #PrimeMinister #CentralGovernment

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