A day after Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai has presented his memorandum to Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi regarding the security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this July, Tamil Nadu's Director-General of Police (DGP) Sylendra Babu has on Wednesday staunchly denied such lapses and asserted that the state police force has best equipment in the country. 

Sylendra Babu, who leads the Tamil Nadu police, is the first high profile police officer to rebut and reject Annamalai's claims while the BJP leader faced a political attack from the state ruling DMK. Sylendra Babu's affirmation has exhibited that there had been no communication from the centre about the security lapse, alleged by Annamalai. 

Speaking to the presspersons after inaugurating the cybercrime awareness programme that was held in the University of Madras on Wednesday, Sylendra Babu said that the police department had not received any communication from central agencies about a security lapse. "The Tamil Nadu police conducted an internal audit of all the equipment and its a routine procedure. The department has the best equipment in the country", he added. 

He further said that Tamil Nadu has provided other states including Kerala with security equipment during their need. On November 29, Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai called on Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi with a shocking complaint of alleging that there was a severe security lapse during Modi's visit in Chennai this July where he participated in the inaugural ceremony of 44th Chess Olympiad. 

In his petition, Annamalai urged the Governor to direct the state government to order an enquiry into the matter. Sharing the news and the meeting on Twitter, Annamalai said that he called on Governor Ravi along with senior party leaders and presented a memorandum on a grave security lapse committed by the DMK government during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Chennai on July 28 and 29.  

Later, the Tamil Nadu BJP unit issued an official press release in which it highlighted about the lapse and what the party has requested the Governor. Citing the memorandum presented to the Governor, BJP has said in the release, "It has come to light that most of the handheld metal detectors, door frame metal detectors and bomb detectors that were used in the security arrangement were not in order and were overdue for maintenance and replacement."  

By citing that its the responsibility of the state police and the state government to ensure the functioning of security devices, BJP's petition stated that after the Prime Minister's visit and after the Central agencies indicated the security lapses, a circular was sent to all the police stations instructing them to furnish the status report of the security devices. The party noted that this report should have been sent before the Prime Minister's visit. 

While Annamalai's allegations about the security lapse occurred to the Prime Minister have triggered a debate in the state as to why he has approached the Governor about the lapse four months after Modi's visit, DMK has rebutted his allegations and said that the Prime Minister's security is completely vested with the Special Protection Group (SPG) and that even the Chief Minister can't enter into the security detail of the Prime Minister. 

DMK Spokesperson TKS Elangovan on Wednesday slammed Annamalai for his claim and said that the BJP leader doesn't know the basics of security even though he served as an IPS officer. Speaking to the reporters at Anna Arivalayam, Elangovan said that the state police no direct role in the Prime Minister's security cover expert supporting the SPG. 

Elangovan pointed out the protocol of SPG that the highest security detail in the country will take control of all security aspects ten days before the Prime Minister's visit and nothing wrong would happen in their security cover. He cited that every devices and parameters will be thoroughly checked by the SPG sleuths before putting them to use during the Prime Minister's visit. It must be noted that, based on Annamalai's memorandum, Governor RN Ravi on Thursday asked for a detailed report on the security lapse from Chief Secretary Irai Anbu.