From The Hindu –
In a shocking happening and sheer negligence amounting to compromising with the Prime Minister’s security, although unwittingly in their over-enthusiasm, the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders here have taken up erection of the main stage from where Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a large farmers rally at the sprawling open ground of the Angadi Institute of Technology on Savagaon Road on February 27, without prior clearance from the Special Protection Group (SPG).
Taking serious note of the happening, Police Commissioner Soumendu Mukherjee, who inspected the spot and the fabrication works under way at the venue, advised the BJP leaders, including Suresh C. Angadi, MP, Sanjay B. Patil, MLA, Abhay Patil, former MLA, to first obtain clearance from the SPG before erecting the pandal for the main stage.
Mr. Mukherjee asked the BJP leaders, in the presence of mediapersons, to submit a clear and detailed sketch of the venue showing the exact location of the main stage being erected for the Prime Minister and other VIPs with exact dimensions, the fencing and distance from the dais and other arrangements being made at the venue.
Once the SPG approved of the plan of work at the venue, the BJP could go ahead with the erection of the stage, and also make other arrangements as per the plan thus cleared by the SPG.
The SPG is a specialised security force of highly skilled and trained commandos formed to provide proximate security to the Prime Minister and former Prime Ministers and their immediate families. Along with the SPG, some of the major tasks of the police are to ensure the personal safety of Very Important Persons, including the Prime Minister, all their engagements and public functions pass off punctually and smoothly. Importantly, they are required to ensure that terrorist/extremist/fundamentalist elements do not gain access to the Prime Minister and other VIPs.
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