The Punjab government has set up a high-level team to probe the incident, which is expected to submit a report within three days
New Delhi: The row over protection lapses surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s go to to Punjab has reached the Supreme Court, with the problem probably to be heard tomorrow. Meanwhile, the state has set up a team to investigate and file a report in 3 days.
- The Supreme Court has been asked to keep the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police accountable and suspend them pending departmental action. “It needs to be ensured this does not take place again,” the petitioner stated. Chief Justice NV Ramana instructed the petitioner to report a duplicate with the state and it might be heard tomorrow.
- The Punjab government – under fire from the BJP with elections due for less than two months has formed a two-member panel. Judge Mehtab Gill, a retired judge, and Anurag Verma, chief secretary of the Home Office and Justice, will submit a report within three days.
- A big brawl broke out on Wednesday when Prime Minister Modi, who was on his way to Ferozepur for a election rally, was stopped for 20 minutes on a flyover. His convoy travelled the 100 km from Bathinda to the road rally after bad weather failed, his helicopter was blocked by protesting farmers. He was arrested 10 km from the venue.
- Union Minister Smriti Irani has led the chorus of political attacks on the Congress, accusing the party of “a murderous conspiracy to kill the PM”. “The Congress hates him, now they want to harm him,” she declared, upping the ante ahead of the February-March election.
- “As per the Blue Book, the state police has to prepare a contingency route for the protectee in case of any adverse situation like the one in Punjab during the PM’s visit,” an official form the Home Ministry told news agency ANI.
