Advani rally in Azamgarh called off

BJP prime ministerial candidate LK Advani's election rally in Azamgarh on March 28 has been cancelled, party district president Vinod Rai said on Wednesday alleging that the district administration denied permission citing security reasons.

However, district magistrate GS Priyardarshi refuted the BJP contention and said permission was granted for holding the rally at Hafizpur in the district.

About cancellation of the rally, he said it was the decision of the BJP itself.

Sixteen districts in the region are going to polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 16.

Azamgarh district in Eastern Uttar Pradesh has been in news for the wrong reasons after arrests of a number of youths on terror charges following the Batla House encounter in Delhi in September last year.