BJP workers stage protest in Varanasi
Sloganeering BJP workers in saffron caps have begun to gather near the Lanka gate of the historic Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi this morning in protest against permission being denied for a Narendra Modi rally in the city.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story
Senior BJP leaders like Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah are leading the protest against the Election Commission in Varanasi. (Track Live Updates)
The BJP plans a show of strength and policemen and Rapid Action Force personnel have been deployed in large numbers, lining the roads on both sides of the massive BHU gates.
In Delhi, BJP workers and another set of top leaders are protesting against the Election Commission outside its office in the heart of the capital. (The Varanasi Showdown: BJP Protests Begin, Modi roadshow later)
This afternoon, Mr Modi will land in Varanasi, will go by chopper to address a rally outside city limits, and then will drive through the city to the party headquarters in what the BJP promises "will be larger than any rally." The BJP's prime ministerial candidate is contesting his first parliamentary election from Varanasi.
The BJP had planned three events for Mr Modi today. A rally at Benia Bagh, prayers on the banks of the Ganga and a meet with 150 citizens at a local hotel. The rally has been disallowed citing security concerns. Permission for the other two events came in on Wednesday evening. The BJP said it was too late.
The BJP has also said that it is not buying the security angle cited by the EC. The party's Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Mr Modi has addressed rallies all over the country and nothing has happened, has it?"
Mr Modi tweeted this morning, "My profound apologies to Ganga Maa for not being able to perform aarti today." (Modi Apologises to 'Ganga Maa', questions Election Commission's 'Neutrality')
It drew an immediate retort also on Twitter from Arvind Kejriwal, who is contesting the general elections in Varanasi against Mr Modi. He said, "Modi ji given permission of Ganga arti. Yet rather than performing arti, he is trying to draw political mileage. Sad. (sic)." He has also challenged Mr Modi to a debate. (Kejriwal, Modi's Challenger in Varanasi, Dares Him to a Debate )
At the Varanasi protest site an agitated BJP worker alleged a conspiracy. "You are not worried about Rahul Gandhi's security or Arvind Kejriwal's security? You have not stopped them."
The BJP alleges that Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi has been allowed by the Election Commission to hold a road-show in Varanasi on Saturday. Mr Gandhi's arrival in Varanasi is a tit-for-tat move - earlier this week, Mr Modi campaigned in the Congress leader's constituency, Amethi.
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