SP workers clean statue of Madan Mohan Malaviya after Modi tribute

Workers of the Samajwadi Party (SP) cleaned the statute of freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya here on Thursday, after BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi had paid tribute before it before heading to the collectorate to file his nomination papers.

Modi, who took part in a road show in Varanasi, also paid tribute before the statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel.

Taking potshots at Modi, SP workers said the sanctity of the statue had been defiled with the former touching it. They cleaned the statue with water, milk and flower petals.

"We see Modi as a communal person who divides Muslims and Hindus in India. We, the people of Varanasi, will not tolerate such a person," said SP worker Kishen Dixit.

It is a religious practice among Hindus in India to clean a temple or idol with milk or water, if either has been touched by a thing or person who is impure.

Opinion polls have predicted a simple majority for the Modi-led BJP alliance which is riding a wave of public anger across India against the ruling Congress party over a slew of corruption scandals and a slowing economy.

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised the acts of the SP workers.

"Nothing better can be expected from the Samajwadi Party, which openly frees terrorists, and is accused of killing people in the most brutal fashion. The high court had to intervene to restrain them. Nothing better can be expected for the kind of inhuman treatment given by Samajwadi Party to the victims of Muzaffarnagar violence. Nothing better can be expected from them as to the manner in which they prevented the police from containing the riots. Therefore, those whose hands are soiled in blood, are trying to wash the statue of Madan Mohan Malaviya. It is shameful and sickening," said Prasad.