BJP's Varanasi Protests Aimed at Communal Frenzy, Says Left's Sitaram Yechury

Varanasi: The BJP's angry protests after Narendra Modi was refused permission for a rally in the heart of Varanasi are designed to polarize voters, alleged the Left's Sitaram Yechury.

"Don't try and whip up communal frenzy hoping it will give you electoral gains in the last phase of the election," said Mr Yechury in Delhi today.   He said that the BJP must raise its differences in a dialogue with the Election Commission. (Watch Video here)

Mr Modi is the BJP's prime ministerial candidate and is contesting his first parliamentary election from Varanasi which votes on May 12, the final of nine days of voting in the national election.

Mr Modi on twitter this morning questioned the "neutrality" of the Election Commission. His party says that on Wednesday morning, it booked a large public park in the heart of the city for Rs 10,000 for Mr Modi's rally, but at midnight, it was told that the venue had been assigned to someone else. Later, the BJP says, leaders were informed that the Intelligence Bureau had deemed the space unsuitable for Mr Modi's address. (Modi Apologises to 'Ganga Maa', questions Election Commission's 'Neutrality')

The party's Arun Jaitley says his investigations have revealed there was no such intelligence warning.  He has asked categorically for the removal of District Magistrate Pranjal Yadav to be removed as the Returning Officer in charge of conducting the Varanasi election. (Modi Rally Permission was Given Then Withdrawn: Jaitley)

Mr Jaitley and Amit Shah, who is Mr Modi's close aide and in charge of the BJP's campaign for Uttar Pradesh, led protests this morning in Varanasi.

Mr Modi is scheduled to address a rally early this evening outside the city limits before driving to the party headquarters in what is expected to serve as roadshow.

Under him, the BJP is expected to win the maximum seats in the election.  Political opponents like the Congress and the Left have urged voters not to support the BJP, alleging that its divisive politics will threaten social peace.