PM Security Breach Row: How Rajiv Gandhi Dealt With Threats

by GoNews Desk Jan 08, 2022 • 01:36 PM Views 1777

Three days ago, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab, he encountered protesting farmers and bad weather which prevented his travel by helicopter to the designated location of the rally in Punjab’s Ferozepur district. He therefore took a road route which was allegedly blocked by ‘protestors’. The Home Ministry and various other leaders of the ruling party have said that this constitutes a serious ‘lapse’ on the part of Punjab’s government, administration, and police.

The case has also reached the Supreme Court in the form of a PIL in which the petitioner has demanded that the state’s home minister and DGP (Director-General of Police) be sacked.

Former PM Rajiv Gandhi Faced Treats To Life Twice

This differs sharply from Rajiv Gandhi’s response to similar events. He took office in the turbulent aftermath of his predecessor and mother’s assassination, and the risk to his life was therefore much more pronounced.

In 1986, Rajiv Gandhi attended a prayer meeting at Rajghat and gun shots were heard in the background. Gandhi stayed calm during the episode and later remarked that “there was no problem” when asked about any lapses in his security arrangements by the SPG (Special Protection Group) that is responsible for the PM’s security.

The next year, he was on a state visit to Sri Lanka in 1987 when a soldier from the ranks made an attempt on his life, but Gandhi escaped unharmed. Again, there was no controversy or court proceedings akin to what we are seeing today.

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