Ludhiana/Hoshiarpur, January 6
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday said had the police used force on protesting farmers on Wednesday, it would have resulted in Bargari-like incident.
He questioned the Intelligence Bureau’s (IB’s) role in the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on Wednesday. He also categorically denied any lapse on the part of the state government in the much-hyped incident, which he dismissed as “a gimmick aimed at toppling the democratically elected government in the state”.
In Chandigarh, responding to a query on reported demands from certain quarters to impose President’s rule in the state, he said it would be infringement on the democratic rights of the people. “The Congress will oppose any such move of the Centre tooth and nail. The democratic process of holding the election on time is the need of the hour,” said the CM.
Addressing a public gathering at the grain market in Ludihana, he said: “If the IB had sensed any threat perception during the PM’s road travel from Bathinda to Ferozepur, what it did to not let it happen.” He held the intelligence paraphernalia around the PM responsible for whatever happened. He said Punjabis had never ever shied away from making sacrifices for the nation and were as patriot a race as any other in the country.
Channi claimed the fact of the matter was barely 700 people turned up at rally site, which forced the PM to return midway and later the blame was pinned on the Punjab Government, citing security threat to the Prime Minister, which he dismissed categorically.
“Five days prior to the scheduled rally of the PM, the Special Protection Group (SPG) took over the landing spot, rally site and each security detail, but later on the PM’s cavalcade suddenly took the land route,” shared the Chief Minister, claiming that the PM’s road route was also cleared by the SPG. — TNS
‘Will not allow use of force on farmers’
Terming PM Narendra Modi’s “life threat” a gimmick, CM Channi on Thursday said had the police used force on protesting farmers on Wednesday, it would have resulted in Bargari-like incident. “Protesters were at least 1 km away from the PM, then how could there be any threat to him as told to our Finance Minister Manpreet Badal on Wednesday,” he said, stressing till he was the CM of Punjab, not even a single bullet would be fired on peaceful protesters and no canecharge or force would be used. OC
‘Security breach’: Averted Bargari-like incident, says Punjab CM Channi
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