Security breach: Ex-CM Amarinder demands Prez rule in Punjab

Patiala (Punjab): FORMER Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday demanded President's Rule in the state after the "grave security lapse" during the prime minister's visit and said the state government should own up to it.

Amarinder also asked farmers not to fall for "unrealistic promises" made by his rivals during the election campaign but vote cautiously.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stuck on a flyover in Punjab for 15-20 minutes on Wednesday due to blockade by some protesters and returned without attending an event at a martyrs' memorial. "There was a grave security lapse and Chief Minister (Charanjit Singh) Channi and Deputy Chief Minister (Sukhjinder Singh) Randhawa should take responsibility," Amarinder said at a public meeting after welcoming senior Congress leader Surinder Singh Kherki into his party, the Punjab Lok Congress (PLC).

The deputy chief minister also currently heads the Home department. "This is no leadership, this is cowardice," Amarinder said alleging that the chief minister and his deputy were passing the buck to others over the security breach. Noting that it was a serious issue, Amarinder also called for President's Rule in the state. He said the Channi government had completely failed in ensuring law and order in the state.

The former chief minister slammed his successor for not receiving Modi personally at Bathinda airport and rued that Punjab had suffered a loss of image due to the incident. "The whole world was watching... the Punjab government failed to provide safe and secure passage to the prime minister...", he said. Amarinder termed it a loss for Punjab as Modi was scheduled to inaugurate projects worth Rs 43,000 cr.