Kashmir Digits

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was forced to cancel his visit to Ferozepur, where he was scheduled to lay the foundation stones for several projects on Wednesday after farmers blocked roads.

The prime minister was scheduled to address a rally later but turned back because of a road blockade by farmers. 

Farmers have been opposing the visit. Modi, who had landed at Bathinda’s Bhaisiana Airforce station, is now heading back there and would soon leave for Delhi, officials said.

 he PM was stuck on a flyover for around 20 minutes because of protesters, the Union Home Ministry said, calling it a major security breach.

“The PM was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of PM,” said the Home Ministry in a statement.

Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal tweeted a photo of himself welcoming Modi earlier in the day. 

“Welcoming Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi Ji, on behalf of the Punjab Government for his official visit to Punjab,” Badal’s tweet said.

Early Punjab Mandate?

he Prime Minister landed at Bathinda earlier today for his visit to a National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala. He was to be flown by a helicopter but due to rain and poor visibility, he waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear.

“When the weather didn’t 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 DGP Punjab Police,” the Home Ministry said.

Around 30 km from the memorial, when the PM’s convoy reached a flyover, the road was blocked by protestors.

Hours before his Punjab visit, the prime minister said in a tweet on Wednesday that he was looking forward to “being among my sisters and brothers of Punjab today”.