Sonia Gandhi, Modi to address rallies in poll-bound Chhattisgarh today

Security heightened across the state, 400 companies of paramilitary forces sent

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will be in poll-bound Chhattisgarh today to address separate rallies.

 

According to reports, Modi is scheduled to address two public meetings in Bastar-Jagdalpur and at Kanker, besides one at Rajnandgaon Dongargarh, while Sonia Gandhi would address the public at Kondagaon.

 

Security has been heightened across the state, particularly in the Maoist-affected Bastar region.

 

Taking a serious note of the Maoist threat, the Centre has sent an additional 400 companies (40,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces to ensure peaceful polling.

 

The BJP has already demanded PM-level security for Modi.

 

The BJP Parliamentary Board on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding Prime Minister level security for its prime ministerial candidate.

 

The party also accused the central governments of monumental failure in providing adequate security to Modi during the party's 'Hunkar' rally' in Patna on October 27 when a series of low-intensity bomb blasts claimed seven lives.

 

Minister of State for Home RPN Singh, however said Modi has been given adequate security.

 

"Security is given depending on the threat perception. The home ministry has already given him NSG (National Security Guard) cover and special security before any programme," Singh told media here.

 

BJP ruled Chhattisgarh would be the first state to go to polls, which would be held in two phases - on November 11 and 19.