PM 'security lapse': Why Modi met President Kovind; BJP wants Punjab Home Minister sacked

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy suffered a security breach in poll-bound Punjab, he met the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. PM Modi provided Ram Nath Kovind with a 'first-hand account' of the incident which occurred a day earlier, as per a statement by the President's office. Kovind expressed concern over the security lapse.

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On January 5, when PM Modi was travelling from Bathinda to Ferozepur, a group of protestors blocked the route he was taking. The convoy was forced to wait on a flyover for around 15-20 minutes, before being forced to turn back. The Union Home Ministry called it a major security lapse, and sought a detailed report from the state administration. A PIL has also been filed against the Charanjit Singh Channi government in the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the BJP's Punjab unit chief met the Governor and sought the immediate dismissal of the state home minister and the police chief. Ashwani Sharma said that he smelled a conspiracy, citing the fact that CM Channi did not receive the Prime Minister and instead sent the finance minister.

Following political uproar, CM Channi had rejected all allegations against his government. The Congress leader had said that he respects the PM and it was the latter who had changed his programme at the last minute.