Pro-Modi slogans ring outside Advani's home

BJP veteran L K Advani on Saturday faced protests by a group vouching support for Narendra Modi as the former chose to skip party's national executive meet in Goa, where the Gujarat Chief Minister is expected to be given a larger role.

A handful of protesters holding the banner that read “Narendra Modi's Army”, shouted pro-Modi slogans outside Advani's 30-Prithviraj Road residence on Saturday afternoon.
In Goa, the BJP distanced itself from the protests saying the protesters were not from the party. Condemning the protests,  BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said: “The BJP does not do any demonstrations in front of its leaders’ homes.

“BJP dissociates itself completely from the protesters outside Advani's residence... We have already said it very clearly... They are not even mebers of BJP,” she said.

Her colleague Shahnawaz Hussain added: “These people have nothing to do with BJP. Advaniji is the seniormost leader of the party.” While the BJP was quick to condemn the incidents saying the protesters have nothing to do with the party, Congress latched on to it reminding people of the treatment meted out to senior leaders within the Opposition party.

Holding placards that read “Narendra Modi Zindabad” and “Make Modi Prime Minister”, the protesters demanded that Advani should step aside and allow Modi to assume a greater role.

‘Advani must step aside’

“We have come here because we want Advani to step aside and let Modi come forward. Advani should have announced Modi’s candidature for Prime Ministership in Goa but he did not do it,” one of the protesters said. Another protester said: “Our main demand is that Modi should be declared as the prime ministerial candidate. That’s why we are protesting here.”

BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain, also disassociated the party from the protest. “These people have nothing to do with the BJP,” he said.