The governmentÂ’s decision to fly an armoured vehicle to India at a cost of more than $1-million for Prime Minister Stephen HarperÂ’s state visit last November mystified Indian diplomats, and prominent security analysts in the country say it reflects a shocking lack of understanding of modern India on the part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, whom the government says recommended the move.
“To think that India cannot protect a visiting dignitary is testament to very poor intelligence in Western countries and a failure of comprehension – it’s just plain stupid,” said Ajai Sahni, executive director of the Institute for Conflict Management in Delhi and a leading expert on terrorism in South Asia. “From a pure security perspective, it’s money down the toilet.”
The Indian government had offered Canada the use of an armoured Mercedes Benz for Mr. Harper’s visit but after a “threat assessment” the RCMP decided it was not sufficient.
India’s president uses an armoured Mercedes Mercedes Benz S600, while prime minister Manmohan Singh – whose security team receives roughly a dozen serious threats to his personal security each day – uses an armoured 2009 BMW 7 Series for his travel in the country, security sources say. Canada instead brought an armoured Cadillac limousine and SUV.
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