Punjab CM Channi slams BJP with quote from freedom fighter Sardar Patel

New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Friday hit out at the BJP with a quote from the former home minister and freedom fighter Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, amid the war of words between Centre and state government over prime minister Narendra Modi's security breach row.

"Someone who is concerned more about his life than his duty, should not take a big responsibility in a country like India," tweeted Mr Channi, with a photo of the freedom fighter.

In an interview with NDTV, Channi said that the BJP was trying to get political mileage out of the Prime Minister's security breach issue. He refuted BJP's allegation that Punjab's Congress government endangered Prime Minister Modi's life with "murderous intention."

"Where was the threat to his life? Nobody was within a kilometre of you. No stone was thrown, no bullet was fired, no slogans were raised. How can you say 'I made it alive'! Such a sensitive statement from such a big leader. People voted you as Prime Minister - you should make responsible statements. You are saying we want to kill our Prime Minister," he had said.

The party has also claimed that the Prime Minister was not in danger at any point in the road journey, which they insisted, was undertaken without any warning to the state police.

Pointing to the BJP outrage, Mr Channi claimed that PM Modi had turned back just to conceal the poor turnout at his rally and the BJP was just trying to use the incident to impose Central rule in Punjab.

"It is a deep conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabiyat. It is an attempt to vitiate the situation in the state. It is an attempt to impose President's Rule in Punjab," Mr Channi told NDTV.

"The maximum number of people involved in the freedom struggle were from Punjab. It is, therefore, wrong to allege Punjab and Punjabis of such acts," he had added.