Congress accuses BJP of enacting political drama
New Delhi: The Congress said on Wednesday that there was no security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab and accused the BJP of enacting a petty political drama over a "so-called breach" in the PM's security.
Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the prime minister had to cancel his rally in Ferozepur as there were no crowds at the event and no one wanted to listen to him.
Modi's scheduled visit to Punjab's Ferozepur to address a rally had to be cancelled after a "major security lapse" on the way as he was stranded on a flyover for 20 minutes due to a blockade by protesters.
The Union Home Ministry has sought an immediate report from the state government and strict action against those responsible. Surjewala said BJP president J P Nadda should stop indulging in the blame game and the saffron party should instead introspect its "anti-farmer" attitude due to which farmers were protesting against the prime minister during his Punjab visit.
His remarks came after Nadda accused the Congress government in Punjab of trying all possible tricks to scuttle Modi's programmes in the state, fearing a resounding defeat at the hands of the electorate. Rejecting the charge, Surjewala said the BJP is playing a political drama of a "so-called breach" in the security of the prime minister.
He also condemned the remarks made by Union minister Smriti Irani, alleging that she used intemperate language.
"There has not been any breach in the prime minister's security and we will not allow any breach in his security and will ensure his security and that is why we deployed 10,000 security personnel," he told reporters. The Congress leader said Punjab witnessed an unprecedented political drama by the BJP which has loss written on its face.
"Fearing complete wipeout in the five election-going assemblies, the BJP has tried to create a political drama of a so-called breach in the security of the prime minister. We reject the charge completely and comprehensively," Surjewala said. "If the farmers suddenly came and blocked the prime minister, should the police have fired at them and killed all of them?'' he asked, noting that doing anything else was unreasonable.
"We would urge the BJP that instead of using intemperate and obnoxious excuses for being rejected by the people of Punjab and UP, let's play politics and let's not bring down the prestige of the office of the prime minister by making such statements. Let's not bring down the prestige and the position of the prime minister by petty political drama in politics," he quipped. Surjewala said these protesters were not terrorists and were agitating against the "anti-farmer" mindset of Modi and the BJP.
"There was a lag of 15 minutes in them being physically removed and the prime minister saw this opportunity to cancel the rally in which there were no people," he said, adding that there was no threat to Modi.
"Punjab's people are neither Khalistanis nor terrorists. I condemn any such linkage," he said, rejecting insinuations of "connivance" between protesters and police.
