Senior BJP leader alleges threat calls

Senior BJP leader Sanjay Joshi, who is entrusted with overseeing poll work in Uttar Pradesh by party chief Nitin Gadkari, has written to MoS for home Jitendra Singh and Delhi police commissioner, alleging threatening phone calls.

Senior BJP leader Sanjay Joshi, who is entrusted with overseeing poll work in Uttar Pradesh by party chief Nitin Gadkari, has written to MoS for home Jitendra Singh and Delhi police commissioner, alleging threatening phone calls.

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Joshi sought security cover, saying such calls had become regular. The calls began soon after he was entrusted with poll-related work in November, which Joshi said could be the handiwork of certain “anti-national”elements.

A team of Delhi Police and intelligence officials visited Joshi and “advised” him to take “certain precautions” and even put his phone on vigil.

But the former BJP general secretary, who is involved in selection of candidates for the UP polls, said the nature of his work involved a lot of traveling and interaction with many people, and hence security cover could be provided to him. Police had apparently conveyed to him that origin of the calls could not be traced till date.

Joshi’s new role was seen as his rehabilitation in party set-up after his exit in 2005 as general secretary following a CD row. His new assignment, however, irked Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who is still said to be upset with Gadkari.