Nation-wide shutdown: Gadkari refuses to comment on Sanjay Joshi

New Delhi, May 31 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Nitin Gadkari on Thursday refused to comment on party leader Sanjay Joshi, who is steering the protest against last week's hike in petrol prices near the Akshardham Temple in New Delhi.

Joshi has been asked to lead the procession and demonstration.

Joshi, considered to be close to Gadkari, had earlier resigned from the party's National Executive.

According to media reports, Joshi, a strong critic of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, had earlier this month sent a letter to Gadkari and said that he is relinquishing his post in the larger interest of the party.

This move is being viewed as an attempt on the part of the BJP to buy peace with Modi, who did not attend the last meeting of the National Executive held in Delhi in December.

Joshi, an old RSS hand, was also given the important charge of handling the poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh. By Pankaj Choudhary(ANI)