One who does not know the situation in a place during growth and decline, who does not control punishment in the treasury, cannot rule like a king! @Vidur Niti
Niraj Krishna
One who does not know the situation in a place during growth and decline, who does not control punishment in the treasury, cannot rule like a king! @Vidur Niti
In other words, a government that lacks information about the situation and circumstances in a country cannot govern effectively. A ruler must be well-informed about the conditions and affairs of their country and state. Additionally, the mention of controlling punishment in the treasury suggests the importance of judicious and fair governance.
On December 13, 2001, the temple of democracy, the Parliament, was targeted by terrorists. Five militants associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad attacked the Parliament building. In this attack, nine people lost their lives, including six Delhi Police personnel, two Parliament Security Service personnel, and one gardener. At that time, the Parliament was in session during the winter. Members of Parliament were present in the House, and after a heated altercation between the ruling and opposition parties on a certain issue, the proceedings of both houses were suspended for 40 minutes. However, during this time, the incident of gunfire outside the Parliament not only shook the Parliament but also the entire nation.
On the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack on Parliament, a commotion arose in the Lok Sabha today when two young men suddenly jumped down from the visitor gallery while BJP MP Khagen Murmu was speaking. The youth, jumping over the benches in the House, started moving forward. Meanwhile, they sprayed something from their shoes, creating a cloud of smoke in the House. Chaos erupted throughout the House. Khalistani terrorist Guru Panthawat Singh Pannu had threatened an attack on Parliament.
Describing the layers of security at the multilevel, a young man enters the country’s Parliament with gas canisters. The Parliament was in session during the winter. The arrival of leaders and journalists was ongoing. There were state-of-the-art security guards with the latest equipment all around the Parliament. But defying everyone’s vigilance, two young men, carrying gas canisters, entered into the parliamentary proceedings. With great difficulty, they were apprehended through the alertness of the security members. However, the question arises as to how such a significant lapse occurred despite such high security. Is there a conspiracy behind this? Although both young men are now in police custody, the two incidents are entirely different. The chosen date and month may be the same, but it doesn’t seem to be more than a mere coincidence than a protest demonstration.
In a country where ruthless assassinations of two prime ministers have occurred due to national and international conspiracies, where a prime minister’s death abroad is surrounded by questions, and where some chief ministers and ministers have also been victims of assassinations, the incidents unfolding in the security system lapses of the VVIPs (Very Very Important Persons) cannot be taken lightly. The gravity of these events is not to be underestimated, contrary to the nonchalant attitude displayed by our leaders and administrative officials who have become accustomed to taking such matters lightly.
Even in the security of the present Congress Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, a major lapse came to light in the year 2007 when the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was on a visit to Russia. It is reported that at that time, his aircraft narrowly escaped a disaster because the landing gear was not deployed. The Moscow ATC (Air Traffic Control) informed the cabin crew about this, following which the landing gear was deployed. If this had not been done, a catastrophic incident could have occurred during the landing. In 2007, if anything untoward had happened to Manmohan Singh, it would have been another blot on him, which was averted due to the prompt action taken by the Moscow ATC.
In November 2021, a security lapse incident involving President Ram Nath Kovind came to light. At that time, President Kovind was on a tour of his home district, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and details of his entire day’s activities were leaked on social media. Interestingly, just a month prior, in October 2021, a youth breached the security apparatus of the current Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, by entering his event with a licensed weapon.
In the same year, there was a security breach in the protection of Jyotiraditya Scindia, the present minister and BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh. During this incident, an escort vehicle assigned for security between Muraina and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh trailed behind another vehicle for up to eight kilometers, highlighting a serious lapse in security measures. Whether it’s the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Beant Singh through a bomb explosion or the immediate past Rail Minister of Bihar, Narayan Mishra’s murder, questions arise regarding various ruthless killings in different incidents involving leaders, officials, and prominent figures. The focus is often on the VIP or VVIP security arrangements in such cases.
Therefore, after the revelation of serious negligence, including lapses in the security of VVIPs, if the competent court initiates prompt self-awareness, it will not only put a check on the discretionary powers of politically inclined administrative officials but will also contribute to the continued efficiency of the Indian administrative system. Whether they are officers of the Indian Administrative Services or State Administrative Services, when they make decisions or procrastinate in connection with committed responsibilities, not only does it affect the broader public interest, but it also tarnishes the administrative reputation and erodes public trust. This goes against the fundamental ethos of any healthy democratic tradition.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab, the gross negligence, grave irresponsibility, and lack of security exhibited by the Congress government there are a dark chapter in Congress politics. Narendra Modi is not only the Prime Minister of India but also the leader of the nation. If his convoy comes to a halt for 15-20 minutes at a flyover, it is not just a matter of concern but a display of serious negligence. This incident is not just about the Prime Minister’s casual approach to security; it is a case of dangerous oversight. Moreover, since this all happened in the border area of Punjab, where the fear of terrorist activities is always present, more robust measures should have been taken for the Prime Minister’s security. The severity of the situation demands that much more effective measures should have been taken in such areas. The manner in which the security issue was handled by the officials of Punjab in response to the Prime Minister’s criticism makes it clear that the Chief Minister should be thankful to receive the Prime Minister back alive. In this case, the Punjab government cannot escape responsibility, nor should it be given the opportunity to evade accountability.
The politics of our country is a spectacle that unfolds, big or small, at the mercy of a few politicians. It is very difficult to predict what drama, big or small, will be orchestrated with whose collaboration. Although the ground reality is that in the country, someone, whether a common person or a special person, becomes a victim of dirty politics either inadvertently or intentionally almost every day. However, sometimes, even prominent individuals find themselves unknowingly caught up in its web. But now, there has been a significant decline in the level of politics in the country. Politics is wreaking havoc in the name of the security lapse of the country’s policymakers and the parliament, although this situation is not at all justified from the perspective of national security and VVIP security.
The outermost perimeter of Parliament is guarded by the Delhi Police. This means that Delhi Police keeps a watchful eye on people at the first entry point. There are also heavily armed personnel from various agencies deployed around the Parliament premises. Among them, the commanders of the CRPF, ITBP, and NSG lead commando units. Additionally, there is a counter-terrorism SWAT team from the Delhi Police, equipped with special weapons and vehicles to handle any sudden threats.
Outside the Parliament, the next layer of security is provided by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Parliamentary Duty Group (PDG). Its primary responsibility is the security of the Parliament and the country. The formation of this security cordon took place after the terrorist attacks on Parliament on December 13, 2001, carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. The PDG possesses weapons and vehicles to engage in counter-terrorism operations.
After the external security perimeters of the Parliament, separate security arrangements are made for both houses. This service extends beyond the Members of Parliament to cover activities related to visitors with passes, media personnel, and others. Furthermore, the Parliament Security Service collaborates with security services dedicated to protecting key individuals in the country. For instance, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the Parliament, coordination is established with the SPG for his security.
Since the occurrence of two consecutive security lapses with the parliament, concerns have been raised about the competence of the country’s security agencies. However, after an initial analysis of this entire sequence of events, it becomes clear that this incident was a significant lapse in the security of the parliament, leading to serious questions about the conduct of the security agencies involved in parliamentary security.
On the anniversary of the terrifying terrorist attack on Parliament, two young men, while describing the security arrangements, demonstrated a serious lapse in security. The manner in which they reached the gallery of the Lok Sabha, leaped into the chamber, and skillfully deployed smoke bombs and similar materials, highlights a significant deficiency in security. It is not only imperative to conduct a thorough investigation into how these two individuals managed to bring materials for spreading smoke into the gallery, where it may not even be possible to carry a piece of paper for the audience attending Parliament sessions, but there should also be a comprehensive review of the security arrangements for the new Parliament building.
