BJP trying to communalise atmosphere in Varanasi: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Thursday criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its protests against the Election Commission in Delhi and Varanasi.

She alleged that both the BJP and the Samajwadi Party (SP) are trying to communalise the atmosphere in Varanasi.

"The SP and BJP are playing out this drama together. They are hand-in-glove. This is being done to influence Muslim voters in the Purvanchal region. The SP wants to show that only it can stand against the BJP," said Mayawati.

"There has been a conspiracy and drama in Varanasi since yesterday to polarize Hindus and Muslims, and they want to take advantage of this polarization. It's an attempt to communalise taking the support of the administration," she added.

She also said that Modi's poisonous comments did not succeed in Amethi, so now they (the BJP) is trying to spread poison in Varanasi.

"Narendra Modi has always been communal in UP. The drama that is being played out in Varanasi is proof of this. They are even trying to politicise the Ganga aarti puja for their gains," she added.

Earlier today, the BJP began its protest against the Election Commission's defence of a returning officer's decision to ban a rally that was to be addressed by the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the congested Beniya Bagh ground of Varanasi.

BJP workers protested outside the Banaras Hindu University. Meanwhile, RAF personnel have been deployed outside the university.

Meanwhile, Modi tweeted and urged his party workers to maintain peace and order while protesting.

"I appeal to my Karyakarta sisters and brothers to maintain peace and ensure that people do not face any difficulty" he tweeted.

BJP is outraged after the district administration denied permission to Modi for holding one of the two rallies in Varanasi on Thursday.

The party will protest in Varanasi and Delhi against the decision. BJP leader Arun Jaitley, along with Amit Shah, will lead the protest in Varanasi.

The BJP had sought permission to organise five events which included a rally by Modi in Beniya Bagh ground in Varanasi.

Modi is contesting from the holy city of Varanasi that will go to polls in the last phase of elections on May 12.

BJP senior leader Arun Jaitley called the move as unprecedented, and said it was a deliberate interference in conducting free and fair polls in the world's largest democracy.