The Home Ministry admitted that the roads on Prime Minister’s rout was blocked by protesting farmers

New Delhi/Ferozepur: Security breach, farmers protest or empty chairs – conflicting reports have emerged after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on way to address a rally in Punjab’s Ferozepur Wednesday cancelled his scheduled plan and returned back to New Delhi.

PM Modi was scheduled to lay the foundation stones of Rs 42,750 crore projects comprising two mega road corridors to enhance accessibility to prominent religious centres and three health institutions in this town bordering Pakistan in Ferozepur.

The Prime Minister landed at Bhaisiana Air Force station in Bathinda town from where he was supposed to travel to Ferozepur by road. However, he was forced to return back after his convoy was stopped by protesting farmers.

Soon later Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced from the venue that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be able to address the rally “due to some reasons”.

Mandaviya was in Ferozepur for the foundation stone of three medical infrastructures, including the 100 bedded PGI Satellite Centre in Ferozepur to be built at a cost of more than Rs 490 crore.Union Ministry of Home Affairs however in a statement said that the Prime Minister’s scheduled visit to Ferozepur was cancelled due to “serious security breach”.

The Home Ministry however admitted that the roads on Prime Minister’s rout was blocked by protesting farmers. The Home Ministry said:

“Today morning PM landed at Bathinda from where he was to go to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. Due to rain and poor visibility, PM waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out.

“When the weather didn’t improve, it was decided that he would visit the National Martyrs Memorial via road, which would take more than 2 hours. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police.