New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday claimed that he was "suddenly" denied permission to fly to Hoshiarpur as it was declared a no-fly zone because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Jalandhar.
Consequently, he was unable to attend former Congress president Rahul Gandhi's public meeting in Hoshiarpur.
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"I was in Una at 11 am but suddenly permission to fly (to Hoshiarpur) was denied due to PM Modi's movement, it was declared a no-fly zone. I was not able to attend Rahul Gandhi's rally in Hoshiarpur. I had permission to land," Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
I Am A Chief Minister, Not A Terrorist: CM Charanjit Singh Channi
The Punjab Chief Minister stated that he had permission for flying and landing at Hoshiarpur which was later withdrawn, complaining that four hours of his time got wasted. He also remarked that he is the state's chief minister and not a terrorist.
"People know everything about what politics they are playing with me," he told reporters, as reported by news agency PTI.
Charanjit Singh Channi later went to Sujanpur in Pathankot for an election-related programme. However, there too he said he was again denied permission to fly to Jalandhar where he was to attend another poll-related programme.
CM Channi said he had to travel through the road from Sujanpur to reach Jalandhar for attending a programme.
According to PTI, he even told a TV channel separately that he was the state's chief minister and not a terrorist.
"Why was I being stopped in such a way? What conspiracy is this? What politics is this?" CM Channi asked.
He alleged that the reason for stopping him from flying was purely political.
If ECI Doesn't Take Cognisance, These Polls Are A Sham: Sunil Jakhar
Earlier, during Rahul Gandhi's rally in Hoshiarpur, senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar had made a statement in this regard.
Levelling the allegation, he said: "Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was scheduled to come to Hoshiarpur but it's shameful that the Central Government cancelled permission for him to come here. If the Election Commission of India does not take cognisance of this, I will understand that these polls are a farce, sham".
The Congress leader said the Union government should shed some light on the incident.
"A few days back, the Prime Minister said that when he came to Punjab, he wasn't allowed to visit Ferozepur and there was a threat to his life. Today, when Charanjit Singh Channi is being stopped from coming to Hoshiarpur, I request PM Modi sahab to shed some light on it," he added, as quoted by ANI.
Meanwhile, BJP or the concerned officials are yet to respond to the allegation.
Election for the 117-member assembly in Punjab will be held on February 20. The counting of votes and result announcement will take place on March 10.
(With Agency Inputs)