London UK January 9, ANI UK-based British Sikh Association condemned the security breach which occurred during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ferozepur in Punjab earlier this week.
The prime minister is a democratically elected head of the government and represents the whole nation, not just one state. No one should undermine the authority of a leader who has to lead the country. It is a sad indictment of the security arrangements surrounding his visit that allowed a handful of an unruly mob to hamper the visit planned to exercise his democratic right to meet and greet the public, according to Lord Rami Ranger CBE, chairman of the body.
The Association stated that the nation was waiting to see what message the Prime Minister had for the people of Punjab, whom he holds in the highest esteem. No other prime minister has done as much for the people of Punjab. He opened the Kartarpur Corridor to honor the religious feelings of the people. The chairman said that he has gone out of his way to promote the teachings and lives of Sikh Gurus in the world through the Indian diplomatic missions.
He noted that the Prime Minister celebrated the 550th birth anniversary of the founder of the Sikh faith Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The 350th birth anniversary of the tenth Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the 400th birth anniversary of the ninth Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji were acknowledged and celebrated by the efforts of Modiji, he said.
The association noted that no other Indian Prime Minister has shown such reverence for the Sikh Gurus.
The British Sikh Association said that Prime Minister has revoked the three farm bills as a mark of respect for the Punjab farmers.
The people of Punjab should have shown respect and gratitude to the Prime Minister for taking back those contentious bills that were also being taken back on the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, he said in the statement.
The misguided people who disrupted the visit should realize that the Prime Minister had come to give more benefit to their State, according to the Sikh association.
He said that by hampering the visit, they have impeded the development of Punjab as a whole and urged the leaders of Punjab to extend an unequivocal apology to the Prime Minister and show their utmost remorse for the way he had to cut short his visit.
The statement also noted that the Prime Minister does not depend on Punjab for his strength in Parliament. Punjab depends on the Prime Minister's goodwill for its future development. Punjab needs the central government to fight the Terrorisrn and the drug epidemic unleashed by India's neighbour, with dire consequences for future generations, it added.
A great opportunity has been lost by the Punjabi people to show their admiration to the Prime Minister for his respect for the people of Punjab and their Gurus. I hope lessons will be learned, and the leaders and people of Punjab will remember that there is no future for any disloyal citizen in India. It added that we are one and must always stand as one.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy was stuck for 15 -- 20 minutes due to a road blockade in Punjab's Ferozepur. The prime minister, who was traveling by road, had to call off his event in Ferozepur on Wednesday.