Prime Minister Modi in April had told the SPG not to stop traffic on the other side of the carriageway after observing that there was no movement of cars on the opposite side while moving out from the BJP headquarters
New Delhi: After travelling without security on two occasions in the recent past, Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to be setting a trend to end the VVIP culture. On Saturday, when the Prime Minister went to Babasaheb Ambedkar Higher Secondary School in Paharganj, Delhi, as part of his ‘Swachhata Hi Seva Movement’, he chose to travel like normal people. His cavalcade had no clear passage; it stopped at every traffic signal.
However, this is not the first time Modi chose not to have a secured route. In August, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was critically ill, Modi suddenly decided to meet him at AIIMS at night. Without informing the local police or having any security staff deployed on the approach route, Modi reached the hospital like an ordinary citizen. “Neither a special security route was deployed nor were there security staff deployed on the route. However, while coming back from AIIMS, some security staff were deployed and a clear passage was given to the PM’s cavalcade,” a security official said.
This time also, the Special Protection Group did not inform Delhi Police about the Prime Minister’s route. Due to no clear passage, Modi’s cavalcade took 8 to 10 minutes extra time to reach the school in Paharganj.
During the journey, other motorists were allowed to travel on the same carriageway. Pedestrians were not removed from the footpath even when they came very close to Modi’s cavalcade.
This time again, as during his return from AIIMS last month, when Modi was returning from Paharganj, security was deployed and a clear passage given to his cavalcade.
In July, Modi had opted for a metro ride with South Korean President Moon Jae-in to inaugurate the world's largest mobile phones factory in Noida. This step prevented heavy traffic on roads connecting Delhi to Noida.
Prime Minister Modi in April had told the SPG not to stop traffic on the other side of the carriageway after observing that there was no movement of cars on the opposite side while moving out from the BJP headquarters.
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