Following warnings of a security threat, the BJP is rescheduling a two-month-long nationwide campaign that was meant to project its prime minister-in-waiting L K Advani.

While the party has not formally announced the decision, a high-level meeting at Advani’s residence decided that the rallies will not take place as per the announced itinerary.

The BJP had said last week that Advani would address 13 rallies in different parts of the country, starting from Jabalpur on February 6 and concluding at Jammu on March 23. The Jabalpur rally will take place as scheduled on Wednesday, but most of the others stand postponed.

National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan had called on Advani and senior leader Jaswant Singh on Monday night and requested them to cancel the campaign.

“Ignoring the advice of the NSA will not be an intelligent move,” BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday. “The Jabalpur rally will take place on Wednesday, but the one at Rampur on 10th has been postponed. Davangiri rally on 13th and Delhi rally on 21st will take place as scheduled. The rallies which have been scheduled after 21st have been postponed because leaders felt that Advaniji should not be away from Delhi when Parliament meets for the Budget Session.”

The BJP said the NSA quoted reports about the ISI and the underworld planning an attack on Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. “He said it would take a fortnight to ascertain these claims and requested Advaniji to reschedule the programme. There is no question of cancellation of the campaign, but it will be rescheduled,” a senior BJP leader said. He added that the BJP considered the advice of the NSA in all seriousness and does not want to score a political point over it.

... contd.