No permission required for Ganga Aarti: Kejriwal

"Modi ji given permission of Ganga arti. Yet rather than performing arti, he is trying to draw political mileage. Sad," Kejriwal said on micro-blogging site Twitter.

"Agar apko kewal arti aur pujan karna ho to EC ki permission nahi chahiye hoti. U need EC permission for political activities," he said.

 "I went alone one day and performed arti. No one stopped me. I will again go with my wife today and do arti. Neeyat saaf honi chahiye," the former Delhi Chief Minister said.

"I invite Mr Modi for an open discussion on a public platform. Let Kashi people ask straight questions from both of us. Time place his choice," tweeted Kejriwal.

Modi, who is also fighting the polls from Varanasi, cancelled his Ganga Aarti plans in the holy town amid a raging controversy and BJP anger over denying him permission to hold a rally by authorities. Modi also took on the Election Commission questioning its neutrality. 

The EC said permission was given for two events of Modi but not a third one owing to security reasons. The EC said permission for the Ganga Aarti and a meeting at a hotel with 150 private citizens had been granted later by the District Magistrate

BJP senior leader Arun Jaitley  blogged: "I cannot conceal my disappointment with the Election Commission. Men in constitutional offices need to be bolder. Timid men can dwarf high offices. The Election Commission scrutinizes us all the time. They are extremely vigilant in tackling the side shows in the elections. They are concerned with what adjectives are used by whom. But when it comes to preventing booth capturing which has reappeared after a decade in elections 2014 they are out of their depth."

Modi was also denied Ganga Pujan (worshipping of river Ganga) at Benia Bagh but reports said he was later permitted to offer aarti.

Polling in Varanasi will be held on May 12.

Kejriwal is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from the Varanasi seat against Modi.