Protests At PM Modi’s Virtual Poll Rally; Screening Cancelled

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual rally for the Punjab Assembly election had to be cancelled due to protests.

In what was his first virtual rally ahead of Punjab polls, Modi addressed people of 18 Assembly segments of Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib parliamentary constituencies on Tuesday, India Today reported. LED screens had been set up by local BJP workers across all 18 Assembly segments.

The rally was scheduled to be screened at three places in Fatehgarh Sahib. However, the screening at one location — Salana — had to be cancelled due to protests. The BJP workers were forced to move away the van with the LED screen.

A political blame game started, with the BJP pointing fingers at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress for provoking the protests. AAP and Congress denied the allegation, saying it was BJP’s infighting.

Polling in Punjab will be conducted in a single phase, on February 20. Votes in all five states where election will be held over the next four weeks will be counted on March 10.