02-02-2007, 10:07 AM
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory...sid=220114
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->BJP to use Modi for Punjab campaign, Mann vows protests
Two days after dropping him from the party's parliamentary board, the BJP on Wednesday announced that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would visit Punjab for election campaign, inviting criticism from Alkali opponents of ally Parkash Singh Badal.
BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters that Modi, the party's Hindutva icon, would also tour poll-bound Uttarakhand for canvassing. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said, would address public meetings in both the states ahead of the assembly elections. The move to use Modi for election campaign in Punjab drew flak from opponents of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Badal who is already under their fire for his ties with the BJP. <b>Hardline SAD leader Aimranjit Singh Mann said his party would hold statewide protests against Modi's visit because of allegations against him in connection with the Gujarat riots.</b>
A section of Badal's SAD also became uneasy with the BJP's plans to use Modi in Punjab campaign. "The BJP should not disregard the fact that its main ally in Punjab, the SAD, is a moderate party and represents a minority community. We do not think such moves will pay dividends to the BJP itself, which could only win three seats in the last state elections. <b>Also, within Akali circles, not much of difference is seen between Gujarat and 1984 riots,</b> " an Akali leader said.
On monday, BJP President Rajnath Singh had constituted his team of office-bearers dropping Modi from the parliamentary board of the party.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->BJP to use Modi for Punjab campaign, Mann vows protests
Two days after dropping him from the party's parliamentary board, the BJP on Wednesday announced that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would visit Punjab for election campaign, inviting criticism from Alkali opponents of ally Parkash Singh Badal.
BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters that Modi, the party's Hindutva icon, would also tour poll-bound Uttarakhand for canvassing. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said, would address public meetings in both the states ahead of the assembly elections. The move to use Modi for election campaign in Punjab drew flak from opponents of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Badal who is already under their fire for his ties with the BJP. <b>Hardline SAD leader Aimranjit Singh Mann said his party would hold statewide protests against Modi's visit because of allegations against him in connection with the Gujarat riots.</b>
A section of Badal's SAD also became uneasy with the BJP's plans to use Modi in Punjab campaign. "The BJP should not disregard the fact that its main ally in Punjab, the SAD, is a moderate party and represents a minority community. We do not think such moves will pay dividends to the BJP itself, which could only win three seats in the last state elections. <b>Also, within Akali circles, not much of difference is seen between Gujarat and 1984 riots,</b> " an Akali leader said.
On monday, BJP President Rajnath Singh had constituted his team of office-bearers dropping Modi from the parliamentary board of the party.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->