Government says adequate security measures in place for Olympic torch relay

The Union Home Ministry said on Tuesday that adequate security measures are being taken to ensure that the Olympic torch relay run in New Delhi on Thursday passes off peacefully, adding that it has reviewed arrangements for the event at a high-level meeting.

New Delhi, Apr.15 : The Union Home Ministry said on Tuesday that adequate security measures are being taken to ensure that the Olympic torch relay run in New Delhi on Thursday passes off peacefully, adding that it has reviewed arrangements for the event at a high-level meeting.

"All necessary arrangements are being made to ensure that the brief event passes off peacefully," a ministry spokesman told reporters after the hour-long meeting chaired by Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta.

The meeting, attended by Delhi Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) general secretary Randhir Singh and senior intelligence and Home ministry officials, gave last minute touches to the security arrangements.

Tuesday's review of the arrangements at the Home Secretary level follows Beijing's concerns in the backdrop of Tibetans storming the Chinese Embassy here and disrupting the run in London and Paris recently.

While National Security Adviser (NSA) M.K. Narayanan took stock of the security measures some time back, this was the second meeting convened by Home Secretary Gupta on the matter.

After the meeting, Police Commissioner Dadwal exuded confidence about everything being in place on April 17, but declined to elaborate.

Randhir Singh said he too was confident that the event would pass off peacefully since all security concerns have been addressed.

Union Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmed told reporters later that the government was committed to ensuring safe passage of the torch to its next destination. "It is our responsibility," he said, soon after assuming his new office.

ANI