Tuesday, February 8 2005 10:28 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) has decided to raise the pitch of its protests over dismissal of Parrikar Government in Goa by fielding its top brass in agitational programmes across the country and the State.

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP president L K Advani and NDA Convenor George Fernandes will be prominent among a host of opposition leaders to come onto the roads in New Delhi today (Feb 08,2005) to protest the sacking of the saffron Government in Goa and demand removal of Governor S C Jamir.

With the slogan of 'Save democracy, remove Jamir', the NDA leadership will stage a sit-in here, BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled States will also participate in today's programme.

The BJP and NDA leaders will protest the "undemocratic and unconstitutional manner" in which Goa Governor removed the Parrikar Government, Naqvi said adding the move amounted to "murder of democracy."

The protests, including dharnas and demonstrations, will be held in all States upto the district level, he said.

From Wednesday (Feb 09, 2005), NDA will launch a week-long agitation in Goa, Naqvi said. Senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh will launch the stir and Advani will participate in the concluding programme on February 16.

Naqvi, M Venkaiah Naidu, M M Joshi, V K Malhotra, B C Khanduri and some other senior BJP leaders will participate in the agitation in Goa on a day-to-day basis, he added.