Delhi: Protests outside SRCC against Narendra Modi's visit, police lathicharge agitators

New Delhi: A group of students including those belonging to the All India Students Federation (AISF) protested outside Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) against the visit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The students numbering about 1,000 broke the police barricade and shouted slogans outside the SRCC.

A few students addressed the media and alleged that Modi was responsible for the 2002 riots in Gujarat in which hundreds of people were killed. Demanding that Modi should not address SRCC students on the Gujarat model of development, the protesters shouted slogans against the Gujarat Chief Minister and asked him to go back.

The police resorted to lathicharge in order subdue a small group of protesters outside the SRCC.

The protesters alleged that Narendra Modi was responsible for the 2002 Gujarat riots in which hundreds of people were killed. They demanded that Modi should go back.

Earlier, Modi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday. It was a courtesy call and the first one after Modi was re-elected as the Gujarat Chief Minister in December 2012.

After meeting the Prime Minister, Modi said, "The Prime Minister assured all help for Gujarat's development." He also said Meeting with the Prime Minister was good and said that Manmohan congratulated him.

The visit is being seen as part of Modi's efforts towards building a pan-India appeal. The Gujarat Chief Minister will be leaving for the Kumbh in Allahabad next week.

In recent weeks, there has been growing chorus in BJP for projecting Modi as party's Prime Ministerial candidate, arguing it will benefit the party in the next general elections.

NDA's key ally JD(U), which has reservation against Modi and wants a secular face acceptable to all as NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate, has condemned the 'mad rush' of leaders naming a candidate of their choice for the top post. On the other hand, Shiv Sena is pitching for Sushma Swaraj as the Prime Ministerial candidate.

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