PM Security Breach: SC Appoints High-Level Committee

SC asked the Central Govt. and the Congress Govt. in Punjab to hold the ongoing

New Delhi: After the Prime Minister's security breach, a high-level committee headed by a retired Supreme Court judge will investigate the PM's security lapse that happened in Punjab that has snowballed into a political issue in the run-up to the state polls.

The Supreme Court today asked the Central Govt. and the Congress Govt. in Punjab to hold the ongoing probes they had ordered.

The bench of Chief Justice of India N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli added that detailed orders regarding the new panel will be issued soon.

On the first hearing of the case that happened on Friday, the court had directed that travel records of the Prime Minister be preserved.

A massive row broke out after the Prime Minister's convoy had to be stopped for about 20 minutes on a flyover in Punjab's Bathinda as the road was blocked by protesting farmers.

Visuals of the SPG personnel surrounding the Prime Minister's car went viral, sparking a war of words between the BJP and Congress.

As per the Union Home Ministry orders, the Punjab government's inquiry will run parallel. The inquiry will probe "security lapses" in security arrangements for the Prime Minister's visit to Ferozepur to address a rally ahead of next month's Assembly election.

While doing a fierce attack and blaming the Charanjit Singh Channi government for the security lapse, Union minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani accused the Congress of "a murderous conspiracy to kill the PM".

The Congress hit back, saying the Prime Minister's travel plans were tweaked at the last moment. The party also accused the BJP of raking up the security lapse to cover up the embarrassment of thin crowds at a rally to be addressed by the Prime Minister.