Agencies | Dec 12, 2004, 06.21 PM IST
NEW DELHI: Popular TV actress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Smriti 'Tulsi' Irani has threatened to fast unto death demanding the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Irani will begin her fast on December 25, the birthday of BJP leader and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Irani, who unsuccessfully contested from Delhi's Muslim-dominated Chandni Chowk constituency in the April-May parliamentary elections, blamed Modi for BJP's recent electoral reverses.
Modi has been widely criticised for his handling of the 2002 communal violence in Gujarat, which killed more than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims.
Asked by a television channel if she had the permission of senior BJP leaders for her move, Irani said: "Why do you think you need permission to do what you think is right. BJP is a democratic party."
She denied that her action amounted to indiscipline and said she was not instigating party workers to join her in the fast.
"Whenever people mention Gujarat they only talk about the riots and try to corner the Gujaratis on the issue. So, in order to maintain the respect that I have for Atalji and the BJP, I won't hesitate to take this step," she said.
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