New Delhi: Senior BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leaders today (Nov 17, 2004) decided to "wait and watch" till the Madras High Court takes a decision on the bail plea of Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi before finalising the party's stand including agitational plans on the issue.

The decision was taken at a meeting of party leaders at former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence where former party chief Murali Manohar Joshi apprised them of his meeting with the pontiff at the Vellore jail yesterday, party sources said.

Spotlight: Kanchi Jayendra Saraswathi's Arrest

BJP president L K Advani, former party chief M Venkaiah Naidu and senior leaders Jaswant Singh and Arun Jaitley were present at the hour-long meeting.

Later at a Diwali get-together with the media, Joshi regretted that the Supreme Court guidelines for dealing with spiritual and religious leaders were flouted while arresting the Kanchi Seer.

"He is being treated like an ordinary criminal," the former Union Minister, who had a 45-minute meeting with the Shankaracharya, said.

Meanwhile, party spokesman Arun Jaitley said the BJP was seriously concerned about the manner in which the whole issue was being dealt with.

"While the law will take its own course, the timing and manner of the arrest, the fact that nothing substantial has been stated so far, even (lack of concern for) his age, health, status and performance of religious duties are a matter of concern," he said.