PM security lapse: BJP-Congress trade charges: Topmost echelons of Congress must apologise: Shah

 Punjab CM Channi expresses regret, Captain asks him to quit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: File Picture

TT Bureau, PTI   |   New Delhi   |   05.01.22: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday expressed regret after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to cut short his visit to the state, but asserted that there was no security lapse.

Modi, who landed in Bathinda and had to take the road route to Hussainiwala in Ferozepur because of the inclement weather, was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes due to blockade by some protesters, an incident the Union Home Ministry described as a "major lapse" in his security.

The PM had to visit for the inauguration and address a political rally. We regret that he had to return due to blockade en route, Channi told reporters here.

After all, he is the prime minister of the country. We respect him. There is a democratic system and federal system, said Channi.

His remarks came as the BJP and the Congress hit out at each other over the issue.

Channi claimed there was no security lapse of any kind and there was no situation of any attack.

He said there was a sudden change in the prime minister's programme and the BJP should not politicise the issue.

In a statement, the Union Home Ministry said that after the "major security lapse" in the prime minister's travel in Punjab, his convoy decided to return.

The ministry also asked the Punjab government to fix responsibility for the lapse and take strict action, the statement said.

Meanwhile, former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh said, "Complete failure of law and order in Punjab, CM and HM Punjab, in particular. When you cannot provide smooth passage to the Prime Minister of the country and that too just 10km from the Pakistan border, you have no right to stay in office and should quit!" read the tweet of Amarinder Singh, who has formed an alliance with the BJP for the assembly elections that are weeks away."

Complete failure of law and order in Punjab, CM and HM Punjab, in particular. When you cannot provide smooth passage to the Prime Minister of the country and that too just 10km from the Pakistan border, you have no right to stay in office and should quit!

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) January 5, 2022

BJP blasts Channi govt over PM security fiasco

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress over the breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security, the BJP on Wednesday alleged the ruling party in Punjab "tried to physically harm him".

Union Home Minister Amit Shah came down heavily on the opposition Congress over a "security lapse" during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab on Wednesday and said the topmost echelons of the party owe an apology to the people of India for "what they have done".

In a series of tweets, Shah also said that such dereliction of the security procedure during the prime minister's visit is totally unacceptable and accountability will be fixed.

"Today's Congress-made happening in Punjab is a trailer of how this party thinks and functions. Repeated rejections by the people have taken them to 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.

Modi's Punjab visit was cut short on Wednesday after a "major security lapse" as he was stranded on a flyover for 20 minutes due to a blockade by protesters, prompting the Union Home Ministry to seek an immediate report from the state government and strict action against those responsible.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, Union Minister Smriti Irani blistered the Congress saying, "Planted political instruments were given political patronage by the Congress government in Punjab to breach the security of the Prime Minister of India."

"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."

Hitting out at the Punjab government, she alleged police functionaries in a state were "directed to breach the security of the Prime Minister of India and bring him physical harm".

"As a worker of the BJP, I am sure the nation shares our outrage at this incident. We know that Congress hates Modi but today they tried to harm the Prime Minister of India," Irani alleged.