Modi stuck 20 minutes on Punjab road

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled his programme in Punjab today after a massive security breach left him stuck on a highway for 20 minutes because of protesting farmers, reports NDTV.

In a spiraling row in election season, the BJP accused Punjab's ruling Congress of "murderous intentions". Punjab's Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, denying any lapse, said he would die for the Prime Minister but he was never in danger.

Visuals show the PM's convoy on a flyover in Bathinda, surrounded by Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel. PM Modi was seen waiting in a black armoured Toyota Fortuner ringed by SPG officers. Barely a few feet from his car were clusters of people and policemen. Images tweeted by a BJP worker showed posters held up as the PM's car drove by. A BJP bus following the convoy was heckled by protesters.

PM Modi cut short his visit and returned to the airport.

"The PM was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of PM," said the home ministry in a statement.

It was the "single biggest lapse in the security of any Indian Prime Minister in recent years", added the BJP.

The Prime Minister had landed in Bathinda earlier today and was to be flown to a Ferozepur rally by a helicopter. After waiting for the weather to clear up, he decided to go by road to the spot two hours away.

Around 10 km from the rally site, the PM's convoy was blocked by farm protesters.

"It was a murderous conspiracy to kill the PM. The Congress hates him, now they want to harm him," said BJP leader and Union Minister Smriti Irani.