Decision to deny Modi permission to hold rally was `politically motivated`: Jaitley

Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday hit out at Election Commission (EC) and said that the denial of permission to party`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to hold a rally in Varanasi was “politically motivated.”

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday hit out at Election Commission (EC) and said that the denial of permission to party`s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to hold a rally in Varanasi was “politically motivated.” BJP leader Arun Jaitley said that while Modi was not allowed to hold rally in Varanasi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was permitted to hold a massive roadshow in the same area in Varanasi on the last last day of election campaigning. “Why was Rahul Gandhi permitted to hold rally in the same area where Modi was denied permission?” asked Jaitley. “Are the security concerns only applicable to BJP and not others? It means that the decision to deny Modi permission to hold rally in Beniyabagh was politically motivated,” he further said. Justifying the move on the part of EC, Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath had earlier said, "Competent local authorities for security reasons were unable to give permission for (Modi`s) public meeting in Beniyabagh. Where security issues are involved, the EC goes by expertise given by local administration.”