Security Breach During PM Modi’s Punjab Visit: Congress, BJP Fire Salvos

Asserting the allegations of security breach are “baseless”, Punjab government spokesperson Raj Kumar Verka said the truth is that the BJP’s rally was a “flop show”.

Security breach during PM Modi’s visit to Punjab.

New Delhi: Amid the ongoing row over security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday went all guns blazing with both blaming each other.

Asserting the allegations of security breach are “baseless”, Punjab government spokesperson Raj Kumar Verka said the truth is that the BJP’s rally was a “flop show”.

“There were no shortcomings in the security arrangements during the PM’s visit to Punjab today. The accusations of a security breach are baseless. The truth is that BJP’s rally was a flop show. When PM got to know this, he decided to return,” ANI quoted Verka as saying.

Punjab Congress leader Sunil Jakhar, however, appeared not to be in tune with his party stating the incident is “against Punjabiyat”.

“What has happened today is just not acceptable. It's against Panjabiyat. A secure passage for the Prime Minister of India to address BJP's political rally in Ferozpur should have been ensured. That’s how democracy works,” he tweeted.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on his part said the Prime Minister decided to take a road journey to Hussainiwala, which was “not part of his original schedule”, as the Kisan mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) was protesting against his visit.

“Dear Naddaji, Stop losing cool & all sense of propriety. Pl remember - 1. 10,000 security personnel were deployed for PM’s Rally. 2. All arrangements were made in tandem with SPG & other agencies. 3. Route was carved even for all buses of BJP workers from Haryana/Rajasthan,” Surjewala tweeted tagging BJP president J.P. Nadda, who had earlier expressed his ire over the incident.

“4. PM decided to take a road journey to Hussainiwala. It was not part of his original schedule to travel by road. 5. Kisan mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) has been protesting against PM’s visit & Union Min, Gajendra Shekhawat has held two rounds of negotiation with them,” he wrote on the micro-blogging platform.

Accusing the ruling BJP at the Centre of ignoring the concerns raised by the farmers, Surjewala asked the saffron party to stop the blame game and introspect on its “anti-farmer attitude”.

“6. Do u know why KMSC & Farmers are protesting against PM Modi? Their demands are -: • Sack MOS Home, Ajay Misra Teni. • Withdraw criminal cases against farmers in Haryana, Delhi & UP. • Compensation for kin of 700 Farmers who died. • Committee on MSP & a quick decision,” Surjewala tweeted.

“7. Post Farmer’s agitation, Modi Govt chose to totally ignore these promises. 8. Finally, the reason for canceling rally is that there were no crowds to listen to Modiji. Stop blame game & introspect on BJP’s anti-farmer attitude. Hold rallies but listen to Farmers first!” he said in a series of tweets.

Earlier in the day, the BJP president cornered the Congress government in Punjab post the incident.

“Fearing a resounding defeat at the hands of the electorate, the Congress Government in Punjab tried all possible tricks to scuttle the PM @narendramodi Ji’s programmes in the state,” he tweeted.

Union Minister Smriti Irani alleged the Congress, which “hates Modi”, tried to “harm the PM of India”.

“Never before in the history of our country, a state govt knowingly constructed a scenario where the PM will be brought to harm. We know Congress hates Modi, but today they tried to harm the PM of India,” ANI quoted Irani as saying.

Seeking an answer from the Congress, Irani said: “Such is the breakdown in law and order in Punjab that the DGP claims he is incapable of providing support PMO and PM security detail.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Punjab BJP president Ashwani Sharma tore into the Congress stating they have no right to be in power if they “can’t save democracy and maintain law and order” in the state.

“If they (Congress) can’t save democracy and maintain law and order in the state, they have no right to be in power. We will release videos of buses carrying people to join rally tomorrow (on allegations that there was poor turnout at BJP rally),” he said in Ferozepur.

Former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh also lashed out at the Congress regime in Punjab and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Home Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.

“Complete failure of law & order in Punjab, CM & HM Punjab, in particular. When you can't provide smooth passage to PM of the country and that too just 10km from the Pakistan border, you have no right to stay in office and should quit!” he tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled rally in Punjab’s Ferozepur was earlier in the day cancelled due to breach in security. 

Taking cognisance of this serious security lapse, the Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the Punjab government.

The Home Ministry has also asked the state government to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action.