Punjab Government hit back at allegations of security breach during PM Modi’s visit to the state, saying that prime minister’s helicopter is an all-weather aircraft but the decision was taken not to use it.
“Helicopter of PM is all weather chopper. And it chose not to fly. It is not even a hilly terrain,” the sources said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to fly from Bathinda to Ferozepur to attend a public meeting that would have essentially kicked off the BJP’s election campaign in poll-bound Punjab.
However, because of inclement weather, it was decided that PM Modi would travel to the venue of the public meeting by road instead of helicopter.
But in a major security lapse, the prime minister’s cavalcade was stranded on a flyover on the way to Ferozepur for nearly 20 minutes due to a blockade by protesters. Due to this, he returned from Punjab without attending any events.
The incident triggered a major political row with the BJP alleging that the ruling Congress in Punjab “tried to physically harm” the prime minister, while other parties too attacked the state government over the law and order issue.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi denied there was any security breach and claimed that PM Modi cancelled his trip because of the “thin” crowd at the Ferozepur rally venue, and there was a “conspiracy” to defame the state.
Following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Punjab government on Friday submitted a report to the Centre saying an FIR has been filed in the matter and a two-member panel set up.