BJP distances itself from pro-Narendra Modi protests outside LK Advani's house

PANAJI: BJP today condemned the protests outside the Delhi residence of party veteran L K Advani who is reportedly opposed to a key role for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

"These people have nothing to do with BJP. Advaniji is the seniormost leader of the party," BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters here.

Later, addressing a press conference another BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the party condemned the protests outside Advani's residence.

"BJP does not do any demonstrations in front of its leader's house," she said.

Sitharaman said BJP dissociates itself completely from the protestors outside Advani's residence.

"They (protestors) are not from BJP," she said. 85-year-old Advani chose to stay away from the BJP National Executive meeting here apparently to express his opposition to making Modi the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign committee chief.

A group of Modi supporters staged a protest outside Advani's residence in Delhi for "opposing" a greater role for the Gujarat Chief Minister.

Holding placards like 'Narendra Modi Zindabad' and 'Bring Modi as Prime Minister', the protesters demanded that Advani step aside and allow Modi to assume a greater role.