'Thank your CM I could make it alive': PM Modi reportedly tells airport officials after 'major security lapse' in Punjab

According to ANI, PM Modi told Bhatinda airport officials: "Apne CM ko thanks kehna, ki mein Bhatinda airport tak zinda laut paaya (Thank your Chief Minister that I could make it alive to the Bathinda airport)."

To this, the Congress questioned whether he really said it, wondering why the comment had not been confirmed either by the BJP or Prime Minister's Office.

"Why is the PMO, BJP ministers or PM not saying this? Was the PM's convoy attacked? Was there any Naxalite or terrorist there," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala questioned.

PM Modi landed at Bathinda airport earlier in the day from where he was scheduled to visit the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. 

"Due to rain and poor visibility, the Prime Minister waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out," read a government statement issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

When the weather did not improve, it was decided that he would visit the memorial via road, which would take more than two hours.

Around 30 kms away 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 and the PM was stuck on a highway in Bathinda for around 20 minutes.

He returned to the airport without attending the mega rally  in Ferozepur to campaign for the Punjab election.

Following the incident, the Centre has claimed it to be a "major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister".

"The Prime Minister’s schedule and travel plan was communicated well in advance to the Punjab Government. As per procedure, they have to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready," a statement from the Union Home Ministry said.

"Also in view of the contingency plan the Punjab Government has to deploy additional security to secure any movement by road , which were clearly not deployed," the statement added.

The Ministry said it is taking cognisance of this serious security lapse and has sought a detailed report from the state government.

"The State Government has also been asked to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action," it added.

Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday sought dismissal of the Punjab government which could not provide security to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Failure to make arrangements for smooth movement of the Prime Minister has drawn wide condemnation across the country. It is a highly condemnable incident. Those responsible for the lapses should be punished stringently," he said.

BJP president JP Nadda lashed out at Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi in a series of tweets and accused him of refusing to take phone calls.

"It is sad that PM's visit to launch development projects worth thousands of crores for Punjab was disrupted... State Police was instructed to prevent people from attending the rally...CM (Chief Minister) Channi refused to get on phone to either address the matter or solve it," Nadda tweeted.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has called the security breach a "complete failure of law and order in the state".

Smriti Irani, the Minister of Women and Child Development, flayed the Punjab government for the major lapse in Modi's security breach.

"We know Congress hates Modi, today they tried to harm the PM of India, " she said.

However, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi expressed his "regrets" but also said that there was no security lapse.

"There was no security lapse of any kind and there was no situation of any attack," Channi told mediapersons.