Security lapse in PM: Mann and Center debate about taking action against officials
CHANDIGARH: As the state administration is taking its time to take action against top police and civil officers, another conflict between the AAP-led Punjab government and the BJP-led Union government seems likely. They were charged with violating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security during his official visit in January of last year.
In response to the Center, the Punjabi government has requested further time before acting against high-ranking officials. According to sources, the Punjab Chief Secretary received a second letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) around 1.5 months ago, in which the MHA expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in taking appropriate action against the officers involved.
Ajay Bhalla, the union home secretary at the time, had questioned the hold-up in taking action against the authorities in charge of the security breach in March of this year. Seven officials have allegedly been suspended and senior officials have received show-cause warnings, according to reports from the state administration to the union government.
The specified officers must be given time to appear before the investigation officer, an inquiry committee must be established, and a specific protocol must be followed in order to take action against top officials (IPS and IAS). These steps have already been taken, according to sources.
It’s interesting to note that on November 21, after the MHA letter, the state government suspended and filed charges against Bathinda Gurbinder Singh Sangha, the superintendent of police. In addition to two inspectors, one sub-inspector, and one assistant sub-inspector officer for neglect of duty, Sangha was assigned as SP Ferozepur at the time of the occurrence, along with two DSP rank officers, Parson Singh and Jagdish Kumar.
Center drafts a second letter
According to sources, the Punjab Chief Secretary received a second letter from the government of Home Affairs around 1.5 months ago, in which the government expressed its dissatisfaction with the lack of action taken against the officers involved. The home secretary had questioned the delay earlier in March.
