New Delhi, Jan 6 (TIWN) Senior BJP leaders including the chief ministers of party ruled states are holding prayers at temples across the country for the well being and long life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. Chief Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Biplab Kumar Deb are participating in prayers in their respective states. Several party office bearers are also taking part in prayers organised in different temples in the national capital.

The move comes a day after the PM’s scheduled visit to Punjab’s Ferozepur was cancelled over a major “security lapse” that resulted in a blame game between the BJP and the Congress, which rules the state.  Chouhan will chant the ‘Mahamrityunjay’ mantra for the long life and safety of the PM, in Bhopal’s Gufa temple at 1 pm, according to Lokendra Parashar, Madhya Pradesh BJP media in-charge. 

Mahamrityunjaya chants will also be performed in all the big Shivalayas, including Mahakaleshwar and Omkareshwar Jyotirlingas, of Madhya Pradesh. Not only this, the women’s wing of Madhya Pradesh will also chant Mahamrityunjay in every district of the state to protest against the Congress government in Punjab.  Among central leaders in the national capital, former MP Baijayant Panda will head to Jhandewalan Temple, Rajya Sabha MP Arun Singh to a temple in Preet Vihar and Upper House MP Dushyant Gautam to Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place.  The Yuva Morcha of the BJP will hold marches across the country. “Congress deliberately put life of PM at risk yesterday. This was attack not only on office of PM but on democracy itself. BJYM strongly condemns this criminal act. BJYM will hold large Mashaal Marches at 6 PM today evening at all districts across country,” tweeted Tejasvi Surya, national president of BJP Yuva Morcha.  Congress deliberately put life of PM at risk yesterday  This was attack not only on office of PM but on democracy itself.  BJYM strongly condemns this criminal act  BJYM will hold large Mashaal Marches at 6PM today evening at all districts across country.#BharatStandsWithModiJi  — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) January 6, 2022  Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta and other senior leaders of the state unit will also conduct the Mahamrityunjaya.  Also read: What led to PM security breach? Experts say ‘lack of preparedness or agencies’ miscommunication’  Row over PM’s security On Wednesday, PM Modi’s scheduled visit to Ferozepur was cancelled after protesting farmers blocked the road leading to the city. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs termed it as a major security breach that the PM was left stuck on a flyover “for 15-20 minutes”. 

Later in the day, senior BJP leader and Union minister Smriti Irani held a press conference and launched a scathing attack on the Congress government in Punjab, questioning why the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) gave an all-clear for PM Modi’s road route even if the state couldn’t make appropriate security arrangements.  Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi expressed “regret and pain” at the cancellation of the PM’s visit but maintained that there had been no security lapse on the part of his government.