Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS: Goa BJP Delegation Meets Guv, Demands Dismissal Of Punjab Govt Over PM Security Breach
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Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS: Politics have heated up after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ferozepur in Punjab was cut short and there was a 'breach in security' after his convoy was stopped for 20 minutes on his way to Bathinda. The BJP on Wednesday launched an all-out attack on the Congress over the breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security in Punjab, alleging it wanted to physically harm him as repeated defeats in elections have taken the party on the path of "insanity".
Top BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah and party president J P Nadda, lashed out at the Congress, which is in power in the state, over the incident.
Nadda accused the Congress of trying "all possible tricks to scuttle" Modi's programmes, including a rally, in the state. Union Minister Smriti Irani asked whether the Congress leaders were "happy that the prime minister was on the verge of death".
Hitting out at the state government after Modi's rally was called off and another programme disrupted as protesters blocked his route breaching the security protocol, Nadda said what is extremely worrisome is that the incident was also a big security lapse.
In his tweets, Shah said, what was witnessed in the state is "Congress-made" and a trailer of how this party thinks and functions.
"Repeated rejections by the people have taken them on the path of insanity. The topmost echelons of the Congress owe an apology to the people of India for what they have done," he said.
Noting that his ministry has sought a detailed report on the security breach in Punjab, Shah said such dereliction of security procedure in the prime minister's visit is totally unacceptable and that accountability will be fixed.
Modi's Punjab visit was cut short as he was stranded on a flyover for 20 minutes due to a blockade by protesters.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Union Minister Smriti Irani blasted the Congress alleging planted political instruments were given political patronage by the party's government in Punjab to breach Modi's security.
"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 in harm's way," she said.
"The Congress failed in its murderous intentions on the holy land of Punjab... Congress leaders were expressing joy over the prime minister's security breach. Were they happy that Prime Minister Modi was on the verge of death?" Irani posed
Rafale maritime fighter jet begins demonstration in Goa
New Delhi, Jan 6 (PTI) Eyeing the Indian Navy's carrier-borne fighter jet deal, France sent a Rafale maritime fighter aircraft to a naval facility in Goa on Thursday to demonstrate its combat capabilities.
The Indian Navy is planning to procure a batch of fighter jets for indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) Vikrant that is likely to be commissioned in August.
The demonstration by the naval variant of the Rafale jet has kicked off at the shore-based test facility (SBTF) in Goa, people familiar with the development said.
In 2017, the Indian Navy had issued a Request for Information (RFI) to procure 57 multi-role combat aircraft for its aircraft carrier.
Four planes were in contention for the deal which included Rafale (Dassault, France), F-18 Super Hornet (Boeing, US), MIG-29K (Russia) and Gripen (Saab, Sweden).
While F-18, Rafale and MIG-29K are twin engine jets, Gripen is a single-engine aircraft.
In the next few months, remaining contenders are also likely to bring in their aircraft to India for demonstration.
The government also wanted manufacture of these planes in India. The RFI sought to know at what level of Transfer of Technology (ToT) and deep repair expertise the companies are willing to share with India.
India had signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in September 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets at a cost of around Rs 59,000 crore for the Indian Air Force.
The first batch of five Rafale jets, manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, arrived in India on July 29, 2020.
Already 33 Rafale jets have been delivered to the IAF by the plane's maker Dassault Aviation.
French Defence Minister Florence Parly, during a visit to India last month, indicated that France will be interested to supply the carrier-based jets.
"We know that the aircraft carrier will soon be...that aircraft are needed. We are open and ready to provide any other Rafale if this is India's decision," she said.
Parkash Singh Badal on PM Modi's security breach in Punjab
At first, the road shouldn't have been blocked but on the other hand, there was no crowd in his program. It's the responsibility of state govt to provide protection to PM but Congress govt has totally failed: SAD Patron Parkash Singh Badal on PM Modi's security breach in Punjab pic.twitter.com/gNXq7ht3uD
— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2022
Goa BJP Delegation Meets Guv, Demands Dismissal Of Punjab Govt Over PM Security Breach
Panaji, Jan 6 (PTI) A delegation of Goa BJP leaders including Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday met Governor P S Sridharan Pillai here and demanded dismissal of the Punjab government over the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to that state.
The delegation included Goa BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade amongst others.
The governor later told reporters that he would convey the demand to the higher authorities. "It is not right on my part to comment on such issues, he added.
Sawant alleged that Congress workers, in connivance with their party's government in Punjab, were involved in the unprecedented security breach.
Never in the past such an incident has happened and it should not recur in future. An inquiry should be conducted in the incident, he added.
The Punjab government has no right to continue. If they cannot provide security to the Prime Minister, the common man is not safe in that state," Sawant said.
In a 'major security lapse', the prime minister's convoy was stranded on a flyover for nearly 20 minutes due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur on Wednesday. Modi returned from poll-bound Punjab without attending any event, including a rally
'Bulli Bai' App Case: Main accused Neeraj Bishnoi remanded to 7-day police custody
'Bulli Bai' App Case: Main accused Neeraj Bishnoi remanded to 7-day police custody, ANI reported. He was arrested from Assam by Delhi Police Special Cell's IFSO team.
SKM On PM's Ferozepur security lapse
It's clear from video of the occasion that protesting farmers didn't even make any effort to go towards PM's convoy. Only a group with BJP flag& raising"Narendra Modi Zindabad"slogan had reached near that convoy. Therefore,threat to the life of PM seems completely concocted: SKM
— ANI (@ANI) January 6, 2022
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