Modi denied rally permission on security grounds: CEC

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Dismissing the BJP's allegations of lack of neutrality, Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath Thursday said that the party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was denied permission to hold a rally in his constituency Varanasi following "professional advice on security grounds".

Sampath, addressing a press conference here, said the Election Commission of India "dismisses all allegations and sweeping statements of lack of neutrality".

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate was given permission for the 'Ganga Pujan' and to hold a meeting in a hotel in Varanasi as "they were fairly simple... permission was accorded within hours of application".

But the "bone of contention" was the party's proposed rally by Modi at Beniabagh, which was not given permission after the district magistrate and "competent local authorities" took cognizance of "relevant professional advice on security grounds", Sampath said.

"This has unfortunately become a bone of contention where security and suitability issues were involved. The EC would naturally go by professional advice and the local administration cannot be ignored," he added.

"I do not think the Election Commission can be faulted...We have always acted in the interest of upholding the constitution," he added.

Thousands of BJP activists protested in Varanasi and New Delhi against the Election Commission's curb on the Beniabagh rally.

Before Modi flew into the Hindu holy city Thursday evening to address one rally that got the poll panel's green signal late Wednesday, a virtual army of BJP workers and leaders staged noisy demonstrations outside the Banaras Hindu University and the district magistrate's office.