The BJP’s grand plans for its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rallies in Uttar Pradesh may have to face rough weather and the state government is likely to deny permission to hold rallies in the state till mid-November.
According to highly-placed sources, the dates announced for Mr Modi’s rallies in UP are not “conducive” to the prevailing atmosphere and, therefore, permission may not be granted. The BJP has planned to hold Mr Modi’s rallies in Kanpur on October 15, in Jhansi on October 25 and in Bahraich on November 8.
A top government official told this correspondent on Monday that the dates of the rallies are coinciding with various festivals and allowing BJP rallies at the same time could disturb communal harmony in a state that is still reeling under the impact of communal violence.
“The first rally is scheduled for Kanpur on October 15. The date clashes with Bakrid and Kanpur, which has a sizeable Muslim population, is also known to be a highly sensitive district from the communal point of view. Besides, Dussehra is on October 14 and the entire administration will be on tenterhooks because of these two major festivals. A political rally at the same time is certainly not acceptable,” the official said.
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