Sanjay Joshi meets BJP leaders sidelined by Modi

Former Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary and Narendra Modi's bete noir Sanjay Joshi on Sunday attended a series of meetings in Gujarat, where many state party leaders apparently sidelined by the chief minister were present.

Joshi, who was unceremoniously removed from the post of general secretary of BJP on the insistence of Modi, visited Ahmedabad, Surat and Navsari districts, where he met many party workers and Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh volunteers.

In Ahmedabad, he attended a religious ceremony organised by former Member of Legislative Assembly Bhavin Sheth.

Apart from Sheth, three former city councillors and a couple of local BJP leaders were also present at the ceremony. According to sources, all these leaders were sidelined by Modi.

Joshi refused to respond to reporters' queries on Modi or the upcoming assembly elections.

"I am here to express my respect at a religious event and from here I am going to Surat where I have prior engagements," he said.

Joshi also visited the RSS headquarters in the city and went to visit the personal assistant of slain BJP leader and former minister of state for home Haren Pandya.

Later, he visited Surat and Navsari, where he met many party leaders and workers.

During a public meeting in Surat, he criticised the United Progressive Alliance government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Lambasting the UPA government over FDI in multi brand retail, he said it "has taken the decision under United States' pressure."