Chandigarh: Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu hit out at BJP leaders on Friday, alleging that a rant about security lapses during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state is being made to reap political benefits in other poll-bound states and save themselves from humiliation as Modi would have had to address a gathering of 500 people when arrangements for 70,000 were made.
Along with Congress leader Alka Lamba, Sidhu launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has accused Congress of conspiring to physically harm the prime minister. The cricketer-turned-politician alleged that by defaming Punjab, the leaders of the saffron party want to reap political benefits in other poll-bound states.
The prime minister's convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Punjab's Ferozepur on Wednesday, after which he returned from the poll-bound state without attending any event, including a rally. The Punjab government has maintained that there was no security lapse but has ordered a probe into the incident.
"It is an attempt to save themselves from humiliation because it must never have happened that a prime minister addressed 500 people when 70,000 chairs were arranged (for the BJP's Ferozepur rally on Wednesday)," he said.
"What do this show and that too at a programme of the prime minister? They (BJP leaders) stand exposed. It is very clear that they have no support in the state," Sidhu added. He said to thrust the onus of Modi's security entirely on the state police is not right as 10,000 people are involved in the prime minister's security paraphernalia, including officials of the SPG, RAW, IB and other central agencies, and the state police takes instructions from them.
The Congress leader claimed that the BJP has no base or public support left in Punjab. "It will get a befitting reply (in the upcoming state Assembly polls) and all those saying president's rule should be imposed in Punjab are its (BJP's) parrots," he said.
He also termed Amarinder as Centre's "parrot" and warned BJP to stop playing politics or they will get a benefitting reply referring to the growing chorus for the imposition of the President's rule in the state.
Defending the Channi government in Punjab which is facing questions over the security breach of Prime Minister, Sidhu said, "All that is being talked about for the past couple of days is security. And there are a few parrots who are mindlessly repeating security, security, security. And the foremost among those parrots are our former chief minister Amarinder Singh," Sidhu claimed.
Sidhu who is famous for the quotations and witty turns of phrases he employs in everyday life was for the first time was seen reading from a paper in a press conference. "They (BJP) must stop playing politics. You will get a befitting reply here. All those talking about President's Rule (in Punjab), are your (BJP) parrots," Sindhu attacked the BJP in a press conference. He further claimed that the BJP has neither votes nor support in the state.
Also Read: PM security breach: Amarinder Singh calls for President's rule in Punjab
"All the real issues of the state, be it farmers or unemployment have been put to the backburner." He further said that the office of the Prime Minister is an institution and millions of Punjabis have lost their lives to protect it, Every Punjabi and the worker of the Congress party will fight till their last breath to protect the nation.
"PM Modi your party and Sangh Parivar may not have hoisted numerous times the tricolour in their lives, the same innumerable times the tirangaa (tricolour)have been wrapped around the bodies of Punjab Sapoots, therefore to claim that PM Modi's as life was in danger in Punjab in an insult to Panjabiyat" he added.
Earlier on Thursday, Amarinder Singh has demanded dismissal of the government and imposition of the President's rule in the state. In a statement, the former Chief Minister said, "This government has lost all the moral and constitutional authority to continue in office as it failed in its constitutional duty to provide security to our Prime Minister".
PM Modi was scheduled to visit Ferozepur on Wednesday to lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 42,750 crore. The Home Ministry has taken cognisance of the "serious security lapse" and has sought a detailed report from the Punjab government. The state government has also been asked to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action.
(With agency inputs)
