Modi's show of strength takes Varanasi by storm

Close on the heels of the Election Commission denying its nod to the Modi rally in Varanasi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate has cancelled his Ganga Aarti programme today.

Modi tweeted today: "It is unfortunate that EC is not concerned about the institution's neutrality, that is why our Karyakartas have to embark on a Satyagraha."

"I appeal to my Karyakarta sisters and brothers to maintain peace ~~amp;amp; ensure that people do not face any difficulty," he added on Twitter.

"My profound apologies to Ganga maa for not being able to perform aarti today. Wish these people know that a mother's love is above politics," Narendra Modi tweeted.

In the wake of massive uproar from the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders against the denial of permission to Narendra Modi to hold a rally in Varanasi, the Election Commission has allowed him to conduct a Ganga aarti in the holy city.

He has also been allowed to hold a conference in his hotel room but no permission has been granted to the BJP prime ministerial candidate to hold a rally in Beniya Bagh due to security reasons.

Meanwhile, the BJP has written to the Chief Election Commissioner demanding the removal of the Returning Officer alleging him to be biased. "This is an attempt to interfere in free and fair elections. I regret to say that EC is a mute spectator in all this.

This morning administration said security concerns for Modiji do not allow holding of his rally. We have met the CEC and requested that the Returning Officer in Varanasi be transferred," BJP leader Arun Jaitley said.

The BJP had also announced its plans to hold a protest in Varanasi on Thursday. "We have decided that tomorrow at 11 am, outside BHU, we will sit on dharna. This is not a banana republic that a prime ministerial candidate is not allowed to address a meeting in his own constituency," he said.

While the administration said that permission has been denied in the wake of IB alerts for the rally, the BJP claimed that the administration had lied about any threat to Modi.

"They have asked us to change venue. If he is not safe in one venue, how can he be safe in another? Ganga Pujan was allowed for others including Kejriwal, but not for Modi," he said.