UP govt cancels Advani, Varun Gandhi rally in Agra

Govt has said the law and order situation in view of Muzaffarnagar riots can be a threat to the security of the leaders

Uttar Pradesh authorities have revoked permission to a BJP rally to be addresed L K Advani and Varun Gandhi here on Sunday citing law and order situation in view of Muzaffarnagar riots and security threat to leaders.

District Magistrate, Agra, Zuhair Bin Saghir today said the permission granted eight weeks ago to BJP's "kisan swabhiman (farmers' self-respect)" rally in Akola village has been cancelled after a "review" as any provocative speech during the rally had the potential of vitiating communal atmosphere.

The BJP slammed the UP government's decision with Varun Gandhi, who was arrested in the run-up to the 2009 elections on charges of making hate speeches but acquitted by court this year, saying that the permission has been cancelled on "flimsy grounds".

He alleged that the Akhilesh Yadav government was "rattled" and was trying to stifle all political opposition.

But officials said that the local intelligence unit report said that "in view of the Muzzafarnagar incident and situation in nearby Achenra town, the rally would pose law and order problems."

"Based on the report of local intelligence unit and the police, permission granted to the rally eight weeks ago was reviewed yesterday and later cancelled in order to check any deterioration of law and order situation as also keeping in mind the security of two high-profile BJP leaders scheduled to address it," The DM said.

He said that on Wednesday a fake CD purportedly associated with the Muzaffarnagar riots was found to be circulating. This had led to tension and markets were also closed.

"While reviewing the situation we also found that the population of the area is also similar to that in Muzaffarnagar," he said adding that any provocative speech during the rally had the potential of vitiating communal atmosphere. Agra is nearly 270 kms from Muzaffarnagar.

The administration also had certain reservation on the security of the two BJP leaders-- Advani and Varun Gandhi-- who were slated to address the meeting.