Chandigarh: In an alleged security lapse, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Union Minister Manohar Lal were forced to wait for over 15 minutes late Wednesday night in Chandigarh after their convoy was stopped due to a locked gate near Punjab Bhawan.
The incident occurred around 11 PM when the leaders were traveling from the Chief Minister’s residence to Haryana Niwas in Sector 3. The road leading to Haryana Niwas, which passes in front of Punjab Bhawan, was unexpectedly blocked by a locked gate, causing an unplanned halt.
CM Nayab Saini called the incident a serious security lapse and pointed out that the closure was due to security personnel deployed by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration. He emphasized that such restrictions should not be imposed on roads frequently used for VVIP movement.
Security personnel accompanying the convoy had to enter Punjab Bhawan, locate the watchman, and get the gate unlocked to allow passage.
Expressing his concern, Saini stressed the need for better coordination between security agencies to prevent such disruptions in the future. He noted that incidents like this should not occur, as they hinder the movement of high-ranking officials. “We were traveling from the Chief Minister’s residence to Haryana Niwas when we found the gate on the road in front of Punjab Bhawan locked. This road leads to Haryana Niwas, and it should not have been closed,” Saini stated.
He added, “I was informed that there was some issue at Punjab Bhawan. This road sees frequent VVIP movement at all hours, and it should not have been shut. I was also told that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had ordered security deployment there.”
Following the incident, authorities have decided to conduct quarterly reviews of security arrangements. Senior police officials will now report any such incidents to the Director General of Police (DGP) for further action.
Additionally, Haryana’s DGP will monitor compliance with security protocols to ensure smooth movement of officials and avoid similar issues in the future.
