Now Reading: Modi asked officers to remove Red Fort bulletproof glass in 2014
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Modi asked officers to remove Red Fort bulletproof glass in 2014
Former defence secretary RK Mathur has recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted on removing the bulletproof glass barrier at the Red Fort before his first Independence Day address in 2014. Mathur…
The Story in Brief
Former defence secretary RK Mathur has recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted on removing the bulletproof glass barrier at the Red Fort before his first Independence Day address in 2014. Mathur told IANS that security officials warned him about the risks, since buildings across Chandni Chowk were visible from the venue.
According to Mathur, Modi said he would not address citizens if the shield remained. The security team eventually removed it at about 2 am on August 15. The episode was recalled after Modi met children, NCC cadets and My Bharat volunteers at the Red Fort during this year’s celebrations, including when he picked up a girl’s fallen cap.
The Indian Opinion
The familiar story here is either that protocol is needless theatre or that any security deviation proves reckless leadership. Neither follows from one recollection. Mathur describes a specific decision, made after officials set out the risks and changed their view. The later cap incident is a courteous gesture, not evidence of a security doctrine. The useful test is whether future events publish clear risk assessments and who authorised departures from established protection measures.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
