<p>A "serious security lapse" on Wednesday left Prime Minister Narendra Modi “stuck” on a fly-over in Punjab for around 15-20 minutes, triggering a political war of words in the poll-bound state with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi denying any breach and BJP accusing the Congress of employing “dirty tricks” fearing a “resounding defeat”.</p>.<p>The breach in security – a protest on the Prime Minister’s route that held up his convoy – led to the cancellation of Modi’s plans to visit the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala and attend a programme unveiling development projects worth around Rs 42,750 crore in Ferozepur.</p>.<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held the Punjab government responsible for the security breach, saying the travel plans were communicated "well in advance" and the state was to keep a contingency plan ready in case of change in plans. It sought a report from the state government as well as fix responsibility and take strict action.</p>.<p>Channi denied any lapse and appeared to find fault with the last minute changes in Modi’s plans while BJP president Nadda accused the Chief Minister of refusing to pick up the phone and attend to the issue, in clear indications on BJP’s plans to use it during the election campaign. </p>.<p>Modi is claimed to have told Bhatinda airport officials, according to <em>ANI</em>, “convey my thanks to your Chief Minister. I managed to come back to the airport alive.” Channi, on his part, claimed Modi’s programme in Ferozepur was cancelled as there were only 700 people when the BJP had made arrangements for 70,000 people.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/say-thanks-to-channi-for-i-could-return-to-bhatinda-airport-alive-modi-to-officials-after-security-lapse-in-punjab-1068199.html" target="_blank">'Say thanks to Channi for I could return to Bhatinda airport alive': Modi to officials after security lapse in Punjab</a></strong></p>.<p>Soon after the incident, the MHA issued a statement providing the sequence of events. It said Modi landed in Bathinda and he was to head to Hussainiwala by helicopter but due to rain and poor visibility, he waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out.</p>.<p>"When the weather did not improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Martyrs Memorial via road, which would take more than two hours. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the Director-General of Police, Punjab," the statement said.</p>.<p>"Around 30 km away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the Prime Minister's convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors. The Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister," it said.</p>.<p>The MHA said the Prime Minister's schedule and travel plans were communicated "well in advance" to the Punjab government and as per procedure, they were to make "necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready". </p>.<p>"Also in view of the contingency plan, the Punjab government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which were clearly not deployed. After this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda airport," the statement said.</p>.<p>The MHA has taken cognisance of the "serious security lapse" and sought a detailed report from the state government. The state government has also been asked to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action, it added.</p>.<p>Responding to the incident, BJP president J P Nadda alleged that the Congress government in Punjab has tried "all possible tricks to scuttle" the Prime Minister's programmes, "fearing a resounding defeat" in the polls.</p>.<p>"In doing so they did not bother that the Prime Minister was to pay tributes to Bhagat Singh and other martyrs, and lay the foundation stone for key development works in the state. By their cheap antics, the Congress government in Punjab has shown that they are anti-development and have no respect for our great freedom fighters too. What is extremely worrisome is that this incident was also a big security lapse as far as the Prime Minister is concerned," he said.</p>.<p>He also alleged that protestors were given access to the Prime Minister’s route while the Punjab Chief Secretary and DGP gave assurances to the Special Protection Group that the route was clear. He also alleged, "to make matters worse, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi refused to get on the phone to either address the matter or solve it."</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>
<p>A "serious security lapse" on Wednesday left Prime Minister Narendra Modi “stuck” on a fly-over in Punjab for around 15-20 minutes, triggering a political war of words in the poll-bound state with Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi denying any breach and BJP accusing the Congress of employing “dirty tricks” fearing a “resounding defeat”.</p>.<p>The breach in security – a protest on the Prime Minister’s route that held up his convoy – led to the cancellation of Modi’s plans to visit the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala and attend a programme unveiling development projects worth around Rs 42,750 crore in Ferozepur.</p>.<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held the Punjab government responsible for the security breach, saying the travel plans were communicated "well in advance" and the state was to keep a contingency plan ready in case of change in plans. It sought a report from the state government as well as fix responsibility and take strict action.</p>.<p>Channi denied any lapse and appeared to find fault with the last minute changes in Modi’s plans while BJP president Nadda accused the Chief Minister of refusing to pick up the phone and attend to the issue, in clear indications on BJP’s plans to use it during the election campaign. </p>.<p>Modi is claimed to have told Bhatinda airport officials, according to <em>ANI</em>, “convey my thanks to your Chief Minister. I managed to come back to the airport alive.” Channi, on his part, claimed Modi’s programme in Ferozepur was cancelled as there were only 700 people when the BJP had made arrangements for 70,000 people.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/say-thanks-to-channi-for-i-could-return-to-bhatinda-airport-alive-modi-to-officials-after-security-lapse-in-punjab-1068199.html" target="_blank">'Say thanks to Channi for I could return to Bhatinda airport alive': Modi to officials after security lapse in Punjab</a></strong></p>.<p>Soon after the incident, the MHA issued a statement providing the sequence of events. It said Modi landed in Bathinda and he was to head to Hussainiwala by helicopter but due to rain and poor visibility, he waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out.</p>.<p>"When the weather did not improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Martyrs Memorial via road, which would take more than two hours. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the Director-General of Police, Punjab," the statement said.</p>.<p>"Around 30 km away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the Prime Minister's convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors. The Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister," it said.</p>.<p>The MHA said the Prime Minister's schedule and travel plans were communicated "well in advance" to the Punjab government and as per procedure, they were to make "necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready". </p>.<p>"Also in view of the contingency plan, the Punjab government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road, which were clearly not deployed. After this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda airport," the statement said.</p>.<p>The MHA has taken cognisance of the "serious security lapse" and sought a detailed report from the state government. The state government has also been asked to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action, it added.</p>.<p>Responding to the incident, BJP president J P Nadda alleged that the Congress government in Punjab has tried "all possible tricks to scuttle" the Prime Minister's programmes, "fearing a resounding defeat" in the polls.</p>.<p>"In doing so they did not bother that the Prime Minister was to pay tributes to Bhagat Singh and other martyrs, and lay the foundation stone for key development works in the state. By their cheap antics, the Congress government in Punjab has shown that they are anti-development and have no respect for our great freedom fighters too. What is extremely worrisome is that this incident was also a big security lapse as far as the Prime Minister is concerned," he said.</p>.<p>He also alleged that protestors were given access to the Prime Minister’s route while the Punjab Chief Secretary and DGP gave assurances to the Special Protection Group that the route was clear. He also alleged, "to make matters worse, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi refused to get on the phone to either address the matter or solve it."</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>
