NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stuck on a flyover during his Punjab visit on Wednesday- a lapse the Centre has blamed on Punjab government and sought a report.
“Around 30 kms away from National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors.The PM was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes.This was a major lapse in the security of PM,” the MHA said.
Government sources in Delhi said only Punjab Police knew the exact route to be taken by the PM’s motorcade, and hinted at a complicity with protesters.
1 /5 Security breach: PM Modi’s Ferozepur rally postponed Previous Next Show Captions
PM landed at Bathinda from where he was to go to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter.Due to rain and poor visibility, PM waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out.
Around 30 kms away from National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors.
The Home Ministry said after the “major security lapse” in the prime minister’s travel in Punjab, his convoy decided to return.
The home ministry said that PM’s schedule & travel plan was communicated well in advance to Punjab Govt.As per procedure, they have to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready, the ministry added.
PM was scheduled to lay the foundation stones of development projects worth over Rs 42,750 crore, including the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway and a PGIMER satellite centre.
As per the original plan, PM Modi was to take a helicopter to Hussainwala after landing at Bathinda airport.Poor weather conditions forced a change in plan, and it was decided that the PM would travel to the National Marytrs Memorial via road- a journey of over two hours.The convoy proceeded on the journey only after confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the DGP Punjab, the MHA said.
Read Also ‘Apne CM ko thanks kehna …
‘: PM Modi’s dig at chief minister Channi over security lapse in Punjab Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was stuck on a flyover in Punjab for 20 minutes due to a protest on his route on Wednesday, took a dig at chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi for the “major security lapse.” According to news agency ANI, PM Modi on his return to Bhatinda airport told officials
It further said that the Punjab government did not deploy additional security as a contingency plan to secure any movement by road.
After this, the PM’s convoy headed back to Bathinda airport.
PM security lapse: Live updates
Union home minister Amit Shah said such “dereliction of security procedure is totally unacceptable,” and accountability will be fixed.The MHA has sought a detailed report on the matter, Shah further said.
“What was witnessed on the flyover was a surprising scene of connivance between Punjab police and so called protestors.Only Punjab police knew the precise route of the PM.Never has such police behavior been witnessed.
This is the single biggest lapse in security of any Indian PM in recent years,” government sources said.
Read Also Security beefed up for PM Modi’s visit to Punjab Going by security concerns for the proposed rally to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ferozepur on January 5, Punjab Police is taking no chances and wants to ensure fool-proof security.The state police has requested for anti-drone apparatus from NSG and BSF.
PM’s rally in Ferozepur was cancelled today.The MHA blamed the cancellation on poor weather conditions.
Punjab CM Channi denies ‘security lapse’ charge
Punjab chief minister Charanjit Channi denied that there was any security breach during the PM’s visit to the state.Addressing the media in the evening, he said that plans were changed at the very last minute and the PM Modi took the road instead of flying down to Hussainiwala.
He added that the matter will be probed; no action has been taken as yet.
Channi said that he could not go to receive the PM as some people in his close circles have recently tested positive for Covid.
Read Also BJP, Congress engage in war of words over security lapse during PM Modi’s Punjab visit NEW DELHI: The BJP and the Congress engaged in a bitter war of words after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was left stranded on a flyover in Punjab for nearly 20 minutes on his way to Ferozepur due to a “security breach.” The BJP accused the Punjab government of trying to cause physical harm to the
War of words between BJP, Congress
The BJP on Wednesday alleged the ruling party in Punjab “tried to physically harm him”.
Union minister Smriti Irani said “Never before in the history of our country has a state government knowingly constructed a scenario where the prime minister of the country will be brought to harm.”
BJP president JP Nadda accused the Channi government of disrupting the launch of development work worth thousands of crores in the state.
“Fearing a resounding defeat at the hands of the electorate, the Congress Government in Punjab tried all possible tricks to scuttle PM’s programmes in the state,” Nadda said on Twitter.
Read Also Dereliction of security procedure in PM’s visit unacceptable, accountability will be fixed: Amit Shah NEW DELHI: The BJP trained its guns on the Charanjit Singh Channi-led Punjab government as well as the Congress on Wednesday after PM Narendra Modi’s rally in Ferozepur had to be cancelled due to ‘major security lapse’.The PM’s cavalcade was stuck on a flyover for around 20 minutes in a major
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma too pointed a finger at the Congress government in Punjab, calling it disinterested in the state’s development.
“Today’s incident shows how Congress is least interested in development and only wants to play politics.
Such a security breach in the crucial border state must be enquired at the highest levels,” Sarma said.
Congress blames change of route plan
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, taking to Twitter, tried to defend the Punjab government and said that PM taking the road journey was not part of the original plan.He even said that the PM’s Ferozepur rally was cancelled as “there were no crowds to listen to Modiji.”
4/47.Post Farmer’s agitation, Modi Govt chose to totally ignore these promises.8.Finally, the reason for cance… https://t.co/InCrqESk0H
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) 1641379129000
Punjab minister Rajkumar Verka, ruling out any lapse on the part of the Punjab government, labelled MHA’s accusations as “baseless.”
“The truth is that BJP’s rally was a flop show.When PM got to know this, he decided to return,” he further said.
However senior Congress leader from Punjab Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday said a secure passage to the Prime Minister should have been provided for addressing his rally in Ferozepur.
He also said, “what has happened today is just not acceptable.”
Amarinder Singh calls for President’s rule
Former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh called for President’s rule in the state after a breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security.
“We are 10 km away from border in Pakistan, where function was kept (in Ferozepur).
If you cannot ensure PM’s security, what can you do? We need a strong government,” he said.
He attributed “complete failure” of security to the CM and the home minister of the state and said they have no right to stay in office.
(With inputs from agencies)
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