Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Sunday, created an uproar when he made an unexpected stop at Jhargram in West Bengal during his election campaign to enjoy a serving of ‘jhalmuri’, a beloved street snack made of mixing puffed rice, chillies, and traditional Indian spices with a dash of mustard oil.
The video shared by the Prime Minister, approaching the vendor and requesting him for the snack before paying him, went viral instantly, with many praising the Prime Minister’s humility.
However, the incident triggered a controversy after the ruling TMC accused the Prime Minister of “anti-tribal mindset”. Due to the Prime Minister's gesture, Jharkhand Chief Minister and tribal leader Hemant Soren's helicopter was unable to land, and he had to return.
According to the TMC, Soren and his wife, Kalpana, were made to wait for hours and eventually had to cancel their program and return to Ranchi. The party posted on the social media platform X that the two elected representatives were not allowed to land because the "Pradhan Sevak" stopped in Jhargram to eat jhalmuri and take photos.
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The TMC alleged that this reflects the central government's attitude towards tribal leaders. The party said it shows how much respect the Prime Minister has for leaders who refuse to bow before him.
This has also triggered questions about the Prime Minister’s protocol. As per rules, whenever the Prime Minister is in the city, security protocols prohibit the landing, takeoff, and landing of other choppers or aircraft during his arrival, landing, and departure. Though the entire area is not a no-fly zone, there is a temporary restriction. The SPG, responsible for the PM's security, operates under a "Blue Book" for this purpose. This provides that air traffic control must not allow other choppers to land while the PM's chopper is landing or taking off. This could possibly be why Soren’s chopper was not allowed to land.