New Delhi:
As BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar announced today that veteran leader LK Advani will not attend a crucial meet of the party in Goa this weekend citing ill-health, about 30 protesters stood outside Mr Advani's house in Delhi and chanted pro-Narendra Modi slogans.
The protesters demanded that "Mr Advani must make way for Mr Modi to officially gather centrestage in the BJP and to be announced the head of the party's campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections."
The BJP, however, insisted they were not party workers. "Party doesn't do any demonstrations infront of its leaders' house... already condemned whatever happened in front of Advani's house... We clearly said that we disassociate ourselves with these protests. after investigations we can say, these protesters are not from the BJP," said BJP Spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman.
Mr Advani leads a faction that is against Mr Modi's promotion. He had skipped an important meeting of party office-bearers yesterday too and has extended his sick leave amid indications that his opposition to Mr Modi's elevation could be ignored and the Gujarat Chief Minister could be anointed head of the election panel on Sunday.
Mr Advani reportedly wanted the decision on Mr Modi's elevation to be taken after the elections in five states this year. According to Mr Advani, Mr Modi's elevation would shift the focus on him, say sources.
Mr Modi is a polarising figure on account of the communal riots in his state in 2002, in which hundreds of Muslims were killed during his first term in office. His severest critics accuse him of complicity in the riots - a charge not proven in court or by different commissions that have investigated the riots.
Apart from Mr Advani, Jaswant Singh, Shatrughan Sinha and Uma Bharati, have said they're sick and will not make it to the Goa conference.