Verbal fisticuffs

Heavy rain had forced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to call off a rally Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to address in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi in July. The party is not taking chances any more. For his August 9 rally in Gaya (Bihar), a waterproof pandal of 100,000 sq ft is being constructed at the Gandhi Maidan. The area has been sealed off and the Special Protection Group is expected to take over the security arrangements in a couple of days. The significance of the PM's visit to the state can be gauged from the fact that the BJP and the ruling Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] have already embarked on a verbal duel around the event, with the former accusing JD(U) supporters of vandalising its hoardings and posters, and the ruling party members challenging the BJP to produce evidence.