Tent collapse finger at state

The tent that collapsed at Modi’s rally. File picture

Imran Ahmed Siddiqui and Kinsuk Basu, TT,  Aug 02, 2018 New Delhi/Calcutta: The Centre has blamed the Bengal government for "lapses" leading to the canopy collapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's July 16 Midnapore rally that left over 90 people injured.

S.K. Sinha, secretary (security) in the cabinet secretariat who had led a team to the site, submitted his report to Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba on Wednesday.

A source said the report questioned the state PWD's fitness certificate for the stage and the shamiana (canopy), and claimed no cops were present within a 5km radius of the event.

"The report has pointed out that no proper logistics (support) was given to the advance security liaisoning team (ASL) which had visited Midnapore two weeks before the PM's visit," a home ministry official said.

The Bengal government has rejected the claims, saying the ASL had sought a PWD fitness certificate for the stage where Modi would be seated and did not bother about the structural fitness of the shamiana (canopy).

"At a meeting with the ASL team, the organisers (Bengal unit of the BJP) were told not to put up any shamiana on the ground to avoid sudden scurrying of the crowd for shelter during a shower. That was not adhered to. We had also specified the crowd should not be over a lakh. The turnout was close to five lakh," said a senior Midnapore police officer.