New Delhi: Joining issue with the Tamil Nadu Government on the arrest of Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, an agitated BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Nov 19, 2004) announced the launch of a three-day nationwide stir from tomorrow (Nov 20, 2004) against police remand for him with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and party President L K Advani planning a dharna and fast in New Delhi.

Spotlight: Kanchi Jayendra Saraswathi's Arrest

It accused both the Tamil Nadu Government and the Centre of "assaulting and insulting Hindu religion".

Advani will lead a day-long dharna and observe fast in New Delhi tomorrow, followed by senior leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and Jaswant Singh on the subsequent days to protest against the Kanchi Seer being sent to three-day police custody.

Vajpayee will join the stir on Monday (Nov 22, 2004), party spokesperson Sushma Swaraj told reporters in New Delhi, adding that the decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the party attended by top leadership.

The party also decided that Vajpayee and Advani will meet the Pontiff during his police custody, she said adding the BJP President was planning to do so on Sunday (Nov 21, 2004).

Swaraj, whose party fought the last Lok Sabha polls in alliance with AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), alleged that Tamil Nadu Government's motive was to "defame" the Shankaracharya "just because of votes".

"It is not a matter of an individual but an assault on and insult of our religion," she alleged, insisting that the Seer had been framed in a "totally false and baseless" case.