PM Modi vs Congress As 'Helicopter Politics' Erupts In Punjab Ahead Of February 20 Polls (WATCH)

'Helicopter Politics' appears to be taking over Punjab electioneering as PM Modi recounted an experience from 2014 after CM Channi claimed he was "suddenly" denied permission to fly to Hoshiarpur.

Photos: PTI |Twitter/@RahullGandhi

Punjab Election 2022: 'Helicopter Politics' appears to be taking over electioneering in Punjab as Prime Minister Narendra Modi recounted an experience from 2014 when his helicopter was stalled in Pathankot because "Congress Ke Yuvraj" (Rahul Gandhi) was going another corner of Punjab.

Notably, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi earlier in the day alleged he was "suddenly" denied permission to fly to Hoshiarpur as it was declared a no-fly zone because of PM Narendra Modi's rally in Jalandhar.

Addressing his first physical rally in Punjab, PM Narendra Modi on Monday attacked Congress for "raising questions" over the 2019 Balakot Airstrike. Following this, he recalled an experience when two of his programmes in Himachal Pradesh were cancelled as his helicopter was not given permission to fly from Pathankot.

"During the elections in 2014, I was the Gujarat chief minister and BJP announced my name as its nominee for the post for prime minister. I was campaigning through out the country while working for my role as chief minister. I was supposed to reach Pathankot and fly to Himachal from there. The Congress scion (Congress ke naamdaar, unke yuvraaj) was just an MP, nothing else. He too had a programme near Amritsar," PM Modi said.

He added: "My helicopter was not allowed to fly. I got late in reaching Pathankot but when I came, my helicopter was not allowed to fly because their 'Yuvraj' (Rahul Gandhi) had a visit in another corner of Punjab. Hence, I was not able to do take the journey."

"This was a misuse of power for one family in 2014. Stalling and bothering the opponents is what Congress did whenever it got the chance to," the former Gujarat chief minister remarked.

#WATCH | During the 2014 elections...they (Congress) stalled my helicopter in Pathankot because their 'Yuvraj' (Rahul Gandhi) was going visit in another corner of Punjab: PM Modi in Punjab pic.twitter.com/OVsCqNLnT9

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022

'Suddenly' Denied Permission To Fly Due To PM Modi's Movement: CM Charanjit Channi

Notably, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, earlier in the day, 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.

"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.

Before this, 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.

BJP or the concerned officials are yet to respond to the Punjab Chief Minister's allegation.

The 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)