Gateway of India Security Lapse Exposed
AAP Youth Wing chief Raviraj Kale questions months-long shutdown of security scanners, demands urgent repairs
Pune / Mumbai: Security arrangements at Mumbai’s iconic Gateway of India have come under scrutiny after metal detectors and baggage scanners installed for screening visitors allegedly remained non-functional for the past six to seven months.
Raviraj Kale, Maharashtra state president of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Youth Wing, inspected the site and raised serious concerns over the alleged security lapses. He criticised the state government and the Home Department for their handling of security arrangements at the prominent tourist destination.
Kale questioned how screening equipment could remain out of service for months at a location that attracts thousands of visitors and tourists every day. He warned that the alleged failure to maintain the equipment could compromise visitor safety.
Recalling the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks, Kale said the city had already witnessed the devastating consequences of a security breach involving terrorists who entered Mumbai through the sea route. He questioned why adequate security measures were allegedly not being maintained at a sensitive location such as the Gateway of India.
He also criticised the administration for allowing security equipment reportedly worth lakhs of rupees to remain unused due to a lack of timely repairs, calling it a serious administrative failure.
The AAP Youth Wing has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Home Department to intervene immediately. The party has demanded that all non-functional security equipment be repaired and restored within 24 hours and that strict action be taken against officials found responsible for negligence.
“The Gateway of India is not just an identity of Mumbai but of the entire country. If our security systems remain neglected even after the tragic events of 26/11, it is a matter of serious concern. Any compromise with the safety of Maharashtra’s citizens and tourists will not be tolerated,” Kale said.
He warned that the AAP Youth Wing would launch an agitation if the government failed to restore the security systems immediately.
The allegations regarding the equipment’s operational status and the duration of the reported outage could not be independently verified from the information provided.
