VARANASI, May 7: A major controversy erupted today with the BJP threatening a showdown with the Election Commission after Narendra Modi was denied permission for holding a rally in a crowded area here tomorrow.
BJP accused the Election Commission of being a “mute spectator” to the “highly partisan” role of the Returning Officer in denying permission to Modi for addressing a public meeting in the crowded Veeniya Bagh area, where the RO cited security concerns in declining permission.
Demanding immediate removal of Varanasi Returning Officer Pranjal Yadav, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said he along with his party leaders including Amit Shah will hold a protest dharna outside Banaras Hindu University as well as outside the Election Commission in Delhi.
Jaitley, who has been camping in the constituency of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate, made a veiled attack on the three-member Election Commission saying, “When weak people sit in high positions, democracy is under threat.”
However, the Returning Officer said permission has been given to Modi to hold his rally at an alternative site on the basis of an application given by a BJP leader.
He also said the other programmes of Modi, including the meeting with intellectuals and the ‘Ganga pooja’ have been granted permission. “They are deliberately making an issue out of it.”
But Jaitley rejected his claim saying BJP has not made any request for an alternative site where only 2,000 persons can be accommodated. “We are not out of our mind to seek permission for a meeting of our Prime Ministerial candidate at a place which can accommodate only 2,000 persons,” he said.
Jaitley spoke to CEC V S Sampath and wrote three separate letters today on the issue, demanding immediate removal of the RO, alleging that a free and fair election is not possible in Varanasi if he continues in the post.
“We are totally disappointed with the Election Commission when it sits as a mute spectator and has not been able to intervene in the issue and for its failure to remove the official…. We have no option but to protest,” he said.
Amid high drama over the proposed election programmes of Modi here tomorrow, BJP said it has been forced to cancel his public rally and the Ganga Arti programme due to the “biased” behaviour of district authorities.
Modi will now drive through the city with his motorcade after addressing a rally in nearby Rohaniya area tomorrow, while senior BJP leaders like Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah will sit on dharna at Lanka gate area outside BHU in the morning.
He will travel to the party’s election office in the Sigra locality, after which he would leave for the airport.
BJP leaders led by its vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Harsh Vardhan will protest outside the Election Commission.
At the party briefing in Delhi, Naqvi said hurdles are being created to prevent Modi from putting across his point of view and campaigning in Varanasi. He alleged a “political conspiracy” behind denial of permission over “laughable” excuses cited by poll officials.
Jaitley said BJP wanted to give reasonable time to poll authorities but lamented that it did not act. “He is trying to interfere in the conduct of free and fair elections and I regret that the Election Commission is a silent spectator.”
“This is not a banana republic that a Prime Ministerial candidate by a pliant Returning Officer is not allowed to hold a meeting in his constituency,” he said, adding that it is the right of a candidate to hold a meeting at place of his choice.
Jaitley said after being convinced that the local poll officer was acting in a biased manner against BJP, he and Amit Shah also met the election observer.
“I have written three letters to the EC and if they are not exercising their constitutional rights to act against such an election officer, then we also have no option but to protest.”
Among other issues, BJP also complained to EC about non- distribution of polling slips to the voters. Jaitley alleged that some teachers on this distribution duty were actually taking back the slips from the voters and this was an attempt to reduce the polling percentage.
In another complaint, BJP said that it was a normal activity to distribute pamphlets during elections, but 27 party workers were arrested for doing it.
Of this, 20 were released on bond, while seven others were detained for two and half days and were released only after bonds of Rs two lakh and a security of another Rs 2 lakh were deposited.
Top officials earlier cited a non-favourable report from intelligence agencies for the denial of permission, saying the ground demanded by BJP was already booked by an NGO for a non -election related event.
Asked if BJP suspected UP Government behind the denial, Jaitley said, “I do not know who is interfering, but the DM as an electoral officer is free to decide on such things and he is not supposed to come under any kind of pressure. We wrote to CEC to seek his removal from here, but it appears that EC is also not taking any action.”
In the letters to the EC, Jaitley alleged that the Returning Officer “continues to be an obstacle in the campaign and is acting highly partisan” and asked, “Is the Election Commission acquiescing to this conduct”.
He said that in case the constitutional remedy of approaching the EC is not available to them, they “will have no option but to protest on this issue”.
Veeniya Bagh is a crowded area in the heart of the city, while Rohania is a rural assembly constituency outside the main Varanasi city but within the Lok Sabha constituency. Both areas have significant Muslim population.
The city has already been converted into a high security zone with the presence of thousands of paramilitary forces and police personnel, while additional forces are being called in tomorrow onwards for polling on May 12 — which happens to be the last of nine phases and campaigning ends on May 10.
Modi is pitted against AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal and Congress’ Ajay Rai. (PTI)
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