Thousands of BJP activists on Thursday protested in Varanasi and New Delhi against the Election Commission's initial curbs on rallies by its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi even as other political parties accused the BJP of creating needless tensions.
Before Modi flew into the Hindu holy city on Thursday evening to address one rally that got the poll panel's green signal late on Wednesday, a virtual army of BJP workers staged noisy demonstrations outside the Banaras Hindu University and the district magistrate's office.
"This is completely unconstitutional," charged senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Arun Jaitley, a Modi confidant. "Modi is being prevented from addressing election rallies in his own constituency. We have no option but to protest."
In Vranasi, Modi alleged the cancellation of his rally in Varanasi was a result of "match-fixing" by the mother-son government, an apparent reference to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing a rally at a place about 12 kilometers away from Varanasi, from where Modi is fighting Lok Sabha polls, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate said they have raked up security concerns to get his rallies cancelled.
Even if there were security risks for him in rallies in Varanasi, then "can't this mother-son government at the Centre give security to one person"? he said. Modi took a jibe at the local administration and election authorities, saying the talk of security risks can't be believed as there appeared no such risks in Rohaniya which is just 12km away. He also claimed "union Home and Finance Ministers have themselves said that there was no security threat to Modi".
BJP wanted to hold the rally at Beniabagh locality in the heart of Varanasi while Rohania is a rural assembly constituency outside main Varanasi city but within the Lok Sabha constituency. Both the areas have sizable population of Muslims.
Reacting to Modi's statement, Election Commission on Thursday rejected its accusations of bias in denying permission to Narendra Modi's rally in Varanasi and made it clear that it was "not afraid of anyone, any political party or any entity" in doing its job.
At a hurriedly-called press conference in Varanasi, Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath strongly defended the action of Varanasi Returning Officer Pranjal Yadav, saying his decision was based on "professional advice" and ruled out his removal as demanded by the BJP. Flanked by other two Election Commissioners, Sampath expressed disappointment over BJP's attack, saying "certain harsh and sweeping statements" were made and political parties to "show greater maturity".
Sampath said the Returning Office, who is the District Magistrate of Varanasi, had denied permission to the rally proposed to be held on Thursday on the "basis of professional advice" and there was no need for the EC to "deviate" from it.
"When the security and suitability issues are involved, the Election Commission naturally will go by the professional advice taken at the district level," the CEC said responding to attacks by BJP which staged protests here and in Varanasi. "The competent local authority, the DM and his team, took the decision taking into consideration relevant professional advice on security," he said.
In New Delhi, slogan-shouting BJP activists led by Harsh Vardhan marched to the Election Commission headquarters that was put under tight security.
Besides Vadodara, Modi is also contesting the Lok Sabha election from Varanasi. His two main opponents are AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal - who said on Thursday that Modi was poised to lose - and Ajay Rai of the Congress.
As crowds swelled at both protest sites in Varanasi, thousands of police and paramilitary forces were deployed to maintain peace. On his part, Modi too appealed for calm.
Jaitley accused District Magistrate Pranjal Yadav of acting at the behest of the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh by fettering Modi.
The BJP declared war on the Election Commission after it said on Wednesday that Modi wouldn't be allowed to hold two rallies or meet intellectuals at a hotel in Varanasi. Security reasons were cited as reasons for the curbs.
But late at night on Wednesday, the poll panel said Modi could go ahead with all events including a Ganga aarti but he must not address a planned rally in Varanasi city.
By then, tempers were running high.
Before heading to Varanasi, Modi told an election rally in Azamgarh that the Election Commission had shown bias and told the panel to ensure a free and fair election in the final phase Monday.
Modi alleged large-scale bungling during voting in states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the last three phases of the staggered parliamentary elections.
But the Election Commission, he thundered, had not intervened.
In Varanasi, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal accused Modi of politicising the issue of the 'Ganga aarti', saying no permission was needed to perform it.
"They (BJP) said they asked for permission. But you don't need permission to perform an aarti unless you are using party flags, banners or indulging in political activity," Kejriwal said.
He accused the BJP of doing "drama" to capture media space ahead of the Monday balloting, and insisted that Modi would surely lose the election in Varanasi.
BSP leader Mayawati and Congress leader P Chidambaram made similar charges. Mayawati said Modi's aim was to polarize voters on communal lines in Varanasi and its neighbouring region.
The Samajwadi Party - which governs Uttar Pradesh -- hit out at Modi, saying contrary to his allegations, it had done everything to protect him in the state.
(With agency inputs)
Comments
0 comment