New Delhi

The BJP and the Congress on Wednesday got into a slugfest on Twitter shortly after Prime Minister Naenda Modi’s visit to Ferozepur in Punjab was canceled due to a security lapse.

The visit was cancelled after the Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes due to protests about 30 kilometres from Hussainiwala

BJP leaders slammed the Punjab government for the "security breach".

Party chief JP Nadda said it is sad that the PM's visit to launch development projects worth thousands of crores for Punjab was disrupted.

"But we will not let such cheap mentality hinder progress of Punjab and will continue the effort for the development of Punjab," he said in a tweet.

"The state police was instructed to prevent people from attending the rally. Large number of buses were stranded because of the high-handedness of the police & connivance with protestors," he added.
Nadda also slammed Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and said he "refused to get on the phone".

"To make matters worse, CM Channi refused to get on the phone to either address the matter or solve it. The tactics used by the Congress government in Punjab would pain anyone who believes in democratic principles," Nadda said.

The Congress hit back with general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala saying that the PM’s visit was cancelled because “there were no crowds to listen to Modiji”.

“Dear Naddaji, Stop losing cool & all sense of propriety. Pl remember -1. 10,000 security personnel were deployed for PM’s Rally.

2. All arrangements were made in tandem with SPG & other agencies.

3. Route was carved even for all buses of BJP workers from Haryana/Rajasthan,” Surjewala tweeted.

In another tweet, he pointed out that “PM decided to take a road journey to Hussainiwala. It was not part of his original schedule to travel by road.

Surjewala also said that the Kisan mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) has been protesting against the PM’s visit and Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat had held two rounds of negotiation with them.

He said the KMSC and farmers were protesting against the PM demanding the sacking of MoS Sack MOS Home, Ajay Misra Teni, withdrawal of criminal cases against farmers in Haryana, Delhi and UP, compensation for kin of 700 Farmers who died and a committee on MSP and a quick decision.

“Post Farmer’s agitation, Modi Govt chose to totally ignore these promises…Finally, the reason for canceling rally is that there were no crowds to listen to Modiji. Stop blame game & introspect on BJP’s anti-farmer attitude, he said in another tweet and advised the BJP to listen to farmers first and then hold rallies.

PM Modi was scheduled to visit Ferozepur on Wednesday to lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 42,750 crore.