The Uttar Pradesh government has withdrawn permission for a BJP rally that was to be addressed by senior party leader L.K. Advani and Varun Gandhi in Akola in Agra on September 15.
The BJP, however, has said that it will go ahead with the rally for which all preparations have been made.
Talking to reporters, Agra district magistrate Zuhair-bin-Saghir said that the permission was cancelled on the basis of the report submitted by the sub-divisional magistrate and circle officer which said that there was a possibility of disturbances during the rally.
“We had given permission earlier based on the reports of the SDM and CO but the situation has changed after the Muzaffarnagar riots. Moreover, the venue of the rally is located in an area that has a sizeable Jat and Muslim population and any reference to the violence in Muzaffarnagar could spark off tension,” the district magistrate told mediapersons on Friday.
The district magistrate said that a group of about 40 young men had gone around raising slogans that they will turn Agra into another Muzaffarnagar after which security has been tightened in the city.
Agra district president of the BJP Ashok Rana said that permission for the rally had been given on September 3 but late on Thursday night he was served a letter cancelling permission for the rally on the grounds that some anti-social elements could disturb peace in the city if the rally is allowed.
“The excuse given by the district administration holds no water and there is no possibility of any disturbance being caused by the rally. If the Samajwadi Party could hold its national executive in Agra, then why can’t the BJP hold its rally here,” he demanded to know.
BJP state president Laxmikant Bajpai said that the party had been denied permission to hold the rally merely to pacify Mohammed Azam Khan who is said to be irked with the party leadership.
“But the rally will be held in Agra on schedule,” he added and said that both the leaders — Mr Advani and Mr Gandhi — were responsible leaders and there was no question of them making provocative speeches.