NEW DELHI: As Cyclone Ockhi is about to make a landfall on the coast of Gujarat, Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Tuesday cautioned the people of Gujarat to fend for their own safety as the administration is busy protecting the “sahab”, a veiled reference to PM Narendra Modi.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall in coastal Gujarat and Mumbai with squally winds, and is expected to cause heavy rains in several parts of the two states during the next two days.

As Cyclone Ockhi weakened over the sea area with landfall over south Gujarat and north Maharashtra, the Indian Coast Guard ships and aircraft have continued the efforts to locate and provide assistance to the stranded fishermen at the sea.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Limbayat assembly was postponed in view of the cyclone Ochki and has now been rescheduled on December 7.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister appealed the BJP workers to focus on helping people across the state.

“With Cyclone Ockhi expected to make a landfall in Gujarat, I appeal to BJP Gujarat Karyakartas to focus on helping people across the state. Our Karyakartas should devote themselves to providing all possible assistance and stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens,” Modi said in a tweet.

He also said that he was monitoring the situation arising in various parts of the country due to the cyclone.

“Continuously monitoring the situation arising in various parts of the country due to Cyclone Ockhi. Spoke to all relevant authorities and officials. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected,” he said in another tweet.

Beside Modi’s rally, a public meeting of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP MP Manoj Tiwari in Surat on Wednesday have also been postponed.

Following the bad weather in several parts of the state, BJP President Amit Shah too had to cancel his several public meetings in Rajula town of Amreli and Mahuva and Shihor of Bhavnagar district.

While Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi held a poll rally in Anjar but his three rallies in Morbi, Dhrangadhra and Surendranagar were cancelled due to the impending cyclone.

Cyclone Ochki has claimed lives of 39 people from the state of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Over 167 people are still missing after the cyclone hit both the states on November 30.

(With agencies input)