July 28, 2026 11:14 pm (IST)
Follow us:
EC justifies denial of permission to Modi's rally
New Delhi, May 9 (IBNS): The Election Commission (EC) on Friday stood by its statement that there was security reason behind the decision to cancel Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's rally in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
"We had specific inputs that there was threat to Narendra Modi's rally," Election Commissioner HS Brahma said during an interaction with Indian Women Press Corps in New Delhi.
Brahma, however, said that poll officials at the ground level should take prompt decisions and convey it to the concerned political parties.
After being accused of lacking neutrality, the Commission on Thursday said it is not afraid of any one or political party and that the Commission discharged its duties impartially.
"The Commission is not afraid of any entity or political party, " Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath said while addressing a press conference.
"We are disappointed that a national party should embark on a protest against the EC," Sampath said urging the leaders of the parties to display greater maturity when referring to the EC.
He said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was denied to hold the rally due to security reasons.
"Political parties must understand that issues relating to permission for campaign purposes should be asked for with due notice. Over 3,000 public meetings have been permitted by the EC in these elections. Competent local authorities of Varanasi, for security reasons, were unable to give permission for Modi's public meeting in Benia Bagh. We are bound to go by professional advice from the local administration. It cannot be ignored," Sampath said.
Sampath also refuted the BJP's charges that there was a delay on part of the EC to grant permission for Modi's Ganga Aarti and meeting in Varanasi.
"The permissions were accorded within hours of the requests," he said.
He said the Commission remained zealous about maintaining its neutrality in conducting elections and asserted that it has followed neutrality and impartiality while discharging its functions.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Sikkim Chief Minister creates political record
Sat, May 17 2014
Narendra Modi sweeps India
Fri, May 16 2014
TRS set to form government in Telangana
Fri, May 16 2014
Gujarat NRE Coke congratulates Modi
Fri, May 16 2014
Modi thanks voters for landslide support
Fri, May 16 2014
Modi's role in BJP victory needs to be assessed: Advani
Fri, May 16 2014
Narendra Modi: The Tea-seller Who Earned It
Fri, May 16 2014
PDP bags all 3 seats in Kashmir
Fri, May 16 2014
Rajnath seeks Vajpayee's blessings, heads for Lucknow
Fri, May 16 2014