PM Modi cancels Ferozepur rally as farmers block flyover; Centre claims security breach

Mukesh Ranjan & Anirudh Gupta
New Delhi/Ferozepur, January 5

In what is being termed as a major security breach, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had to cut short his Punjab visit today after he remained stranded on a flyover near Piareana village on the Ferozepur-Moga road for about 20 minutes due to a blockade by farmers.

Also read: 5,000 turn up at PM Narendra Modi’s Ferozepur rally venue

Deliberate bid to physically harm PM, alleges BJP

No lapse, route was changed at last minute: Punjab CM

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sought a detailed report from the state government and asked for fixing accountability and taking strict action against those responsible for it.

Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “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.” “Such dereliction of security procedure during the PM’s visit is totally unacceptable and accountability will be fixed,” he added. The PM reportedly landed in Bathinda this morning from where he had to go to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. As his helicopter could not take off due to inclement weather, he started his journey to Ferozepur by road. When the PM’s convoy reached near Piareana village, where Ferozepur DIG Inderbir Singh and SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans were present to receive him, around 200 protesters blocked the road following which the PM’s cavalcade remained halted there for 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, announcements were made from a nearby gurdwara due to which more farmers reached the spot and the situation turned tense. SPG sleuths then decided to take the PM back to Bathinda as they feared he might get trapped if the protesters blocked the other side of flyover also.

Later, the Prime Minister went back to Bathinda and from there to Delhi.

Talking to The Tribune, DIG Inderbir Singh said it was like a flashmob of around 100 farmers that suddenly arrived at the spot and blocked the road.

Demanding CM Channi’s resignation over the issue, state BJP chief Ashwani Sharma said, “Buses carrying BJP workers were halted at Harike Pattan, Moga, Tarn Taran, Abohar, Malout, Kotkapura. Party workers were also attacked at some places in the presence of police officials.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs said the PM’s schedule and travel plan were communicated well in advance to the Punjab Government and as per procedure, they had to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready. According to the laid-down procedure, an alternative route was to be kept ready for which clearance of roads and deployment of security personnel needed to be ensured by the state government, an official said.

How the events unfolded

• 10.25 am Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s helicopter lands in Bathinda
• 10.45 am Leaves for Hussainiwala (140 km away) by road owing to bad weather
• 1 pm The PM’s cavalcade reaches flyover near Piareana, 30 km from memorial
• 1.20 pm PM returns after remaining stuck as 200 protesters block flyover
• Announcements reportedly made at gurdwara nearby, more farmers arrive at site
• 3.30 pm PM reaches the Bathinda Air Force station and flies back to Delhi

We did it, claims BKU-Krantikari

• A group of farmers owing allegiance to the BKU (Krantikari) claimed it had blocked elevated road near Piareana village to protest PM’s visit
• Carrying flags, the farmers raised slogans against the PM.
• Several unions, including the BKU (Ugrahan) and BKU (Dakaunda), had been protesting against the visit for the past three days

Against Punjabiat

What has happened today is not acceptable. It’s against Punjabiat. — Sunil Jakhar, PPCC ex-chief

Boycott by people

The real reason for Modi ji’s absence from the Ferozepur rally was total boycott by people. — Pargat Singh, Punjab minister

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