Prime Minister Narendra Modi took out a roadshow in Palakkad town on Tuesday, infusing enthusiasm and excitement in thousands of BJP workers who gathered here to greet him.
It was Mr. Modi’s second visit to Kerala within a week as part of the BJP’s election campaign. He had addressed a rally in Pathanamthitta on March 15. BJP leaders said Mr. Modi would visit the State again to campaign for the party’s key candidates in April.
The roadshow started at 10.45 a.m. from Anjuvilakku Junction. Thousands of BJP workers lined up on both sides of the road and cheered the Prime Minister.
Mr. Modi was flanked by BJP’s Palakkad candidate C. Krishnakumar and Ponnani candidate Nivedita Subramanian. BJP State president K. Surendran and two SPG guards stood behind.
Denied permission
However, BJP’s Malappuram candidate M. Abdul Salam was denied permission to accompany Mr. Modi during the roadshow. Dr. Salam, the only Muslims candidate on the BJP’s first list, reached here on time to join the roadshow, but he was not allowed to enter the vehicle as his name was not on the SPG list. Dr. Salam left Palakkad saying that “his name was not there on the list.”
BJP sources said that Dr. Salam could not be accommodated as there was no space in the vehicle. CPI(M) leader A.K. Balan accused the BJP of insulting not only Dr. Salam, but the Muslim community as well. “The BJP had announced earlier that the candidates of Ponnani, Malappuram and Palakkad would accompany the Prime Minister. But by denying Dr. Salam, the BJP has sent a wrong message. It can be interpreted that Dr. Salam was denied entry because he is a Muslim,” said Mr. Balan.
He said that minorities would have to suffer more such insults from the BJP. However, Dr. Salam denied Mr. Balan’s allegation, saying that it was a fabricated story. “His job is to fabricate such stories,” Dr. Salam said in Malappuram.
Dr. Salam told a channel that he went to Palakkad to meet Mr. Modi, to take a photo with him, and to invite him to Malappuram.
Dr. Salam added that he was disappointed at being denied the opportunity to board the Prime Minister’s vehicle. “Who will not like to accompany the Prime Minister? I have no complaint. I knew I was not eligible. But my opportunities are coming,” he said.
The roadshow covered nearly one kilometre in half-an-hour and concluded at Head Post Office at 11.15 a.m.
Elaborate security arrangements were made for Mr. Modi’s visit. More than 2,000 police personnel were deployed across the town.
