Claiming that the Centre and the AAP government in Punjab had colluded to stop Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi from visiting flood-hit areas in the state, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said on Tuesday that Gandhi was not only advised to “cancel his Punjab visit” but also stopped from visiting a cluster of seven villages across the Ravi in Gurdaspur.
Earlier, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had taken on Gandhi for the “delayed visit” to Punjab, remarking in a sarcastic vein that he “should have let more water recede before visiting the state”. Responding to the CM’s statement, Warring said it made more sense for Rahul Gandhi to visit now when floodwaters have receded and actual problems have started emerging.
Warring said the BJP is insecure because PM Narendra Modi, during his Punjab visit, indulged in photo-ops, while Rahul Gandhi moved around in villages and met people. He claimed that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had received a telephonic call from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting him that Gandhi should avoid crossing the flooded river due to safety concerns.
Also read: Rahul Gandhi visits flood-hit Amritsar
“This was not about security, it was a political decision aimed at avoiding accountability. If the government claims it cannot protect a senior leader like Rahul Gandhi, how will it protect ordinary Punjabis?” asked Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa.
Row over ‘siropa’, SGPC marks inquiry
The gesture of offering ‘siropa’ to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the SGPC-run Gurdwara Samadh Baba Budha Sahib in Ramdass has invited criticism from SGPC members Surinder Singh Bhulewal, Manjit Singh and Malkit Singh Changal.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has ordered an inquiry into the matter. The SGPC executive has restricted the ‘siropa’ ceremony only for Sikh religious figures, saying that it is performed in front of Guru Granth Sahib.
Stopped from crossing Ravi, Rahul asks ‘is it not India?’
As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was proceeding towards Toor village near the India-Pakistan border in Gurdaspur, police officials reportedly prevented him from crossing the Ravi, citing security concerns. Pointing towards the village across the river, Gandhi asked, “You are telling me you cannot keep me safe on Indian territory? Is it not India? Are you saying the Leader of Opposition cannot visit because Punjab Police cannot provide protection?”
“Our own people live there. We have been running a medical camp in that area for three days,” said former chief minister Charanjit Channi. “If Rahul Gandhi faces a threat from Pakistan while in India, and we’re not safe even on Indian soil, then where are we safe?” asked Warring.
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