"I have already said I would be the first to take a bullet for the PM": Charanjit Channi told NDTV
Returning fire in the massive fight over a security breach that left Prime Minister Narendra Modi stuck on a highway for 20 minutes on Wednesday, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today accused the BJP of an elaborate conspiracy to impose President's Rule in the state ahead of elections.
"It is a deep conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabiyat. It is an attempt to spoil the situation in the state. It is an attempt to impose President's Rule in Punjab," Mr Channi told NDTV in an interview.
"I have already said I would be the first to take a bullet for the Prime Minister. What else should I do? Slit my wrist?" - said the furious leader, who took charge of the Punjab Congress government four months ago.
The Chief Minister hit out at the BJP's allegations of endangering PM Modi's life with "murderous intentions".
"Where was the threat? Nobody was within a kilometre of you. No stone was thrown, no bullet was fired, no slogans were raised, nobody showed you any stick. How can you say 'I made it alive'! Such a sensitive statement by such a big leader. People voted you as Prime Minister - you should make responsible statements. You are saying we want to kill our Prime Minister."
Mr Channi accused the BJP of trying to paint a wrong picture of what went down on Wednesday, when PM Modi's route was blocked on his way to a rally in Punjab's Ferozabad by road.
"Actually, the PM had intended to turn around after 10 km because 70,000 chairs were put at the venue but not even 700 showed up. All chairs were empty. They felt it was better to make a u-turn 10 km before the venue. How petty they are! Just to ensure that empty chairs are not shown on TV they made up this new thing - 'the PM is in danger, he survived, mrityunjay jaap happening everywhere... Why are you taking the country on the wrong path? We are nationalists. Every time elections come you suddenly remember nationalism and pretend to be nationalists."
