'Cheap way to gain public sympathy': Tikait on PM's security breach row

New Delhi: Following the alleged breach in security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Punjab on Wednesday and and the political turmoil surrounding it, national spokesperson of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said that it was an attempt by the Centre to find a "cheap way to gain public sympathy".

"When the Prime Minister was coming to Punjab, what arrangements did he make about his security? The news about him saying that he survived makes it clear that it was a stunt. It was an attempt to find a cheap way to gain public sympathy," Mr Tikait said.

The farmer leader further said that the Prime Minister should not have opted to go to Punjab.

Amid a war of words between the BJP and the Congress, the farmer leader said that both are only "trying to defend themselves".

"Central government says that there was a security lapse and the Punjab government says that Prime Minister did not go there because chairs in his rally were empty. Both are only trying to defend themselves. The Prime Minister should not have gone there," Mr Tikait said.

Tikait further added that one needs to investigate whether there was a security lapse or the farmers were expressing their anger.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from Punjab, urging the state government to fix responsibility for the lapse and take strict action.

PM Modi was scheduled to visit Ferozepur on Wednesday to lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than ₹ 42,750 crore. He landed at Bathinda in the morning to go to the National Martyr's Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. The Prime Minister waited for the weather to clear out before deciding to travel by road, the Home Ministry said in a statement.

The Prime Minister began his travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the Punjab top cop, it said.

Around 30 km from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the Prime Minister's convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors.

The Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes.