U'khand BJP demands withdrawal of FIR over PM rally

The BJP's Uttarakhand unit today demanded withdrawal of an FIR which alleges that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pre-poll rally in Haridwar did not have the Election Commission's permission.
"All necessary permissions were taken from the administration well in advance to hold the rally, including clearance for the venue, the route and protocol.
Still an FIR has been lodged against BJP office bearers and workers by the city magistrate cum assistant returning officer saying the PM's rally did not have the EC's permission," state BJP president Ajay Bhatt told reporters here.
The BJP accused Chief Minister Harish Rawat of pressurising officials to lodge false cases against BJP workers.

Alleging that Haridwar city magistrate Jaibharat Singh had lodged the FIR under pressure from the Chief Minister, Bhatt demanded that the FIR be immediately withdrawn and the official in question removed from his post as he was playing into the hands of the state government and acting in a partisan manner.
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Bhatt said he had given it in writing to the Chief Electoral Officer demanding quashing of the FIR and would approach the Chief Election Commissioner if required to do so.
The FIR was lodged last evening after state Congress chief Kishore Upadhyay approached the Chief Electoral Officer with a complaint.

Bhatt said there was nothing illegal about the PM's rally as all necessary permissions were taken prior to the event.
"Even otherwise PM's rallies are not a hush-hush affair. They are properly advertised and the local administration is informed as their involvement is needed at every step because of the heavy security apparatus around the PM," the state BJP chief said.