BJP expresses "disappointment" over EC's decision

New Delhi, May 8:

today expressed "disappointment" over the

's stand to go by the Varanasi administration's decision to deny permission to a rally of Narendra Modi and rejected its endorsement of the reasoning of "security repercussions" given by the Returning Officer.

"We have approached the CEC against the decision but the CEC also dissappointed the people of Varanasi. They also agreed with the decision taken by the local administration," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here. BJP leader Arun Jailey said "BJP does not accept the reasoning of the Returning Officer endorsed by the Election Commission that a rally by Shri Narendra Modi at Beniya Bagh, Varanasi, would have security repercussions."

"It is dangerous to rely exclusively on the "professional" advice of those who may render unprofessional advice," he said. The Election Commission, while defending Varanasi Returning officer Pranjal Yadav, said it relied on the "professional advice" given to it by other bodies.

"For the Election Commission to abdicate its jurisdiction under Article 324 of the Constitution in favour of the judgement of the appointees of the state government would be a failure to exercise jurisdiction," Jaitley said. Javadekar alleged the decision of the local administration not to allow Modi rally was done because of political pressure.

"The decision of the city administration denying permission for the rally in Varanasi was taken under political pressure," he said. The BJP leader said "if there was a security issue, then it was not disclosed yet. Even if there was a security concern, the Election Commission should have given a direction to the city administration to strengthen security in the area. But in democracy not allowing meeting is a blot on democracy."

PTI