SP trying to scuttle Modi rallies: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Saturday accused the Samajwadi Party government of trying to scuttle public rallies of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh.

BJP state spokesman Manoj Mishra said the district administration in various places were hesitant to give permission for the rallies.

"At some places the venue is not given and at other places, on one pretext or the other, officials are not allowing us to move ahead with out programmes," Mishra told IANS.

"We are not going to be deterred by these tactics," he said.

Citing the example of Kanpur where Modi is to address a rally, Mishra pointed out that while they were initially given permission for holding it at Phoolbagh ground, the venue was changed to Gautam Buddha Park.

Now officials were saying that even this venue may not be available as there were high tension wires above the rally ground.

Attempts to scuttle Modi rallies would have "dangerous consequences", he said. The BJP has planned nine rallies of the Gujarat chief minister over the next two months in Uttar Pradesh.