LUCKNOW: In a surprise development, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath called up his predecessor Akhilesh Yadav on Friday expressing concern about a “security breach” during PM Narendra Modi ’s recent visit to Chitrakoot.

During Modi’s visit on February 29 for laying the foundation of Bundelkhand Expressway, a Samajwadi Party worker had shown a black flag. PM’s security staff overpowered him and handed him over to the local police.

Confirming that the telephonic conversation between Yogi and Akhilesh had taken place, additional chief secretary (Information) Awanish Awasthi told TOI that this was not the first time the CM had spoken to the SP chief about security concerns. “It was a courtesy call to the former chief minister by the CM,” he said, adding that the former CM had been told to restrain his workers.

According to sources, while asking Akhilesh to direct SP workers not to pose a security threat to PM’s public programmes, the CM said the SPG might take the “strictest action” against protesters in future.

Akhilesh said there was no direction to the cadres to disrupt any programme of the PM and assured that he would convey a message among party workers against such forms of protest. A close aide of Akhilesh told TOI that during the conversation, the SP chief drew the CM’s attention towards a similar attempt by a protester when he disrupted his rally at Kannauj by shouting the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan.

