Sumit Prakash Verma, who was 32, died after the vehicle carrying him to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research could not enter the emergency area.
Manmohan Singh has apologised to the family of the patient who died outside a Chandigarh hospital on Tuesday because of delay in treatment caused by the prime minister’s security arrangement.
Sumit Prakash Verma, who was 32, died after the vehicle carrying him to the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research could not enter the emergency area in time for treatment. The PM was at that time visiting the hospital for its 30th convocation. Verma, who was brought to the hospital from Ambala, 45 km from Chandigarh, is survived by his wife and two children.
In a letter to Verma’s wife, the PM expressed “profound sadness” and “regret” and wrote that he has asked those in charge of VIP security to be “sensitive to the concerns of the common man”. The PM’s office has sought a report from the authorities on Verma’s death, which has evoked criticism of VIP security.
“I don’t know whether the man died because of the PM’s visit, but generally speaking, the manner in which VIP security is done is not just vulgar but intrusive,” said Prakash Singh, former head of the Border Security Force.
Former Delhi police commissioner Ajay Raj Sharma said: “Security personnel failed to judge the situation. It would have taken one minute to get permission from a senior officer for allowing the patient into the hospital.”
As commissioner, Sharma has dealt with VIP movement. “Security personnel are told to make sure the public and traffic are not inconvenienced. Senior officials are told to strike a balance between security arrangements for a VIP and the situation on the road.”
Singh said traffic jams caused by VIP cavalcades are common in Delhi, which is home to over 400 VIPs, including former prime ministers and presidents. “Compared to western countries, the VIP security system in India is downright vulgar. I have travelled abroad, but nowhere have I found such bad VIP security as exists in India. Security should be secretive, but here we have a blatant exhibition culture.”
In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, VIP cavalcades are longer and security personnel engaged in VIP duty more aggressive. “Not even the most powerful political figures of the world make way through public roads in this fashion. Look at Mayawati. It’s sad,” Singh said.
In many developed countries, presidents, prime ministers and chief justices of apex courts are provided government security. In India, according to estimates, Rs800 crore of government money goes into VIP security annually.
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