Did you notice during PM Modi‘s recent Sri Lanka visit that the security personnel were not standing right next to the red carpet? Have you ever wondered Why?
Well, it’s not laziness—it’s legacy.
That weird-looking gap between the security officers and red carpet isn’t an error. It’s actually a part of a well-though-out protocol. And all that goes back to two defining incidents that redesigned how India safeguards its leaders.
Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassination and the Shift in Protocol
Let’s turn back the clock to 1987. Then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi took a flight to Sri Lanka to sign the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord—a diplomatic move to soothe a civil war. On paper, it was a peace agreement. On the runway, it almost became an international controversy.
During the ceremonial guard of honour, a Sri Lankan naval cadet youth—perhaps too fanatic—took a swipe at Rajiv Gandhi with his rifle. The butt of the rifle hit him on the shoulder, missing his head by inches.
The moment stunned everyone. Cameras captured the blow. Indian security officials stood frozen. Guards were positioned nearby, but neither too close to move nor too far to intervene. That incident, made one thing clear: even formal ceremonies can turn dangerous in an instant.
From Warning to Tragedy
Four years after the Sri Lanka accident. This time, it was not a warning. It was the worst possible situation. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber at a rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on May 21, 1991. The unthinkable had occurred, smack in the middle of a crowd that he had trusted.
It wasn’t a private tragedy—nationally, it was a shockwave. A Prime Minister had been killed in peacetime, in broad daylight. And again, questions were raised: Where was the perimeter? Why was the crowd so close? Why didn’t anyone expect a breach?
That instance dispelled any notion of security through proximity. Overnight, India’s security policy was altered. The blunder wasn’t permitting someone to approach—it was thinking proximity equated to protection. It didn’t.
Security forces rewrote the entire VIP protection playbook. Security guards would no longer escort dignitaries like props at ceremonies. They would watch from afar—eyes always on the move, responses thought out beforehand. Distance was defense. The red carpet, formerly a symbol of status, became part of the tactical space.
The Special Protection Group (SPG), established after the assassination of Indira Gandhi and now toughened by Rajiv’s murder, made this spatial tactic an unbending principle. No more feeling, no more symbolism—merely hard security science.
PM Modi in Sri Lanka: No Room for Blunders
Recently, when PM Narendra Modi visited Sri Lanka, eagle-eyed netizens spotted something amiss — a discernible gap between the red carpet and the security personnel who were guarding it. On the face of it, it could have appeared to be a breakdown in protocol or even a bout of ceremonial indifference. But look closer, and it was evident: this was no mistake. It was a deliberate choice.
After all, security for top leaders such as PM Modi isn’t merely about show — it’s about precision, anticipation, and spatial planning. Every inch of the area surrounding the PM is carefully plotted and weighed for threat. The Special Protection Group (SPG) — India’s top-secret security agency responsible for the PM’s security — works off a rulebook penned by years of changing threats — and informed by the bitter lessons of past failure.
Therefore, the gap that is seen between guards and the red carpet is not a system defect — it is the system. The gap provides for better vision, space to maneuver in a hurry, and most importantly, reaction time. Particularly on foreign tours, where the element of uncertainty exists, the buffer space plays an essential role in crowd management and situational awareness.
Lessons from the Past, Protocols for the Future
PM Modi’s team fully understands the stakes. As a leader who commands massive attention — and occasionally, sharp opposition — both at home and abroad, the scale and sensitivity of his security detail are immense. Whether he’s attending a high-level summit or walking past a ceremonial guard of honour, not a single step is left to chance.
So the next time you notice a strangely bare stretch of red carpet, don’t assume the worst. It’s not sloppiness or neglect. It’s a subtle but strong reminder that contemporary security is about more than appearing vigilant — it’s about planning ahead. And it’s a heritage based on tough lessons that India isn’t about to forget.