New Delhi: Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Thursday denied in the Lok Sabha that there was any breach in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's security on the occasion of the Independence Day, clarifying that the reported posting of three or four former militants for PM's security had taken place on November 27, 2004.
''There has been no breach of PM's security,'' Patil said while responding to the concern expressed by BJP, BJD and SP members during Zero Hour over a television channel report on the alleged lapse in the security cover for the Prime Minister.
Patil said one of the CRPF jawans had been recruited in 1988 and another in 1998 under the ‘healing touch’ policy of the Government in 1988 for bringing the surrendered militants into the mainstream.
Later it was found, that one of them had made a wrong declaration that he was a surrendered militant just to get a job and he was punished for this that time itself after an inquiry.
Of the three or four CRPF jawans in question, two were from Jammu and Kashmir and one from Punjab.
When Prof Vijay Kumar Malhotra (BJP), Brijkishore Tripati (BJD) and Mohan Singh (SP), who had raised the issue, sought to counter the Minister for blaming the Government in 1988, Patil said he was not stating it was a wrong policy as the UPA Government was also following it.
''We are not finding fault with that policy. We are continuing with that.''
Patil further clarified that the CRPF personnel, claimed to be former militants, were only on ‘picket duty’ to help the Delhi police if necessary and were positioned ''far away from the place of the Prime Minister.''
One of them, Head Constable Rajkumar, was found missing during the picket duty and he had given an explanation the next day that he had to leave the place as his gun and ammunition were missing.
An inquiry was conducted subsequently and he was dismissed from service. Other CRPF personnel who were living with him in a tent were also punished.
These constables ''have a grudge against their seniors and they are making'' all false statements about the intrusion of former militants in PM's security.
Regretting that the television channel had carried the report on the evening of August 15 making it appear that the incident had taken place just then, Mr Patil, however, said the government would not ''brush aside'' the members' suggestions and concern.
The Home Minister said the PM's security apparatus at his residence and office was vested with the Special Protection Group (SPG) at the inner cordon and the Special Duty Group (SDG) drawn from the CRPF at the outer cordon.
Comments
0 comment