Varun Gandhi’s hate-Muslim speech makes his BJP squirm

The Congress,headed by Varun’s aunt Sonia Gandhi,was quick to condemn the remarks as “unethical and against law”. “It is condemnable… He (Varun) is associated with a party which has this (anti-minority) ideology and culture,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in New Delhi.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi snubbed Varun,saying his speech is “a manifestation of his family’s past Congress culture” and that his outburst “did not reflect BJP’s traditional culture”.

The Pilibhit district administration said it is waiting for Varun’s reply to a notice on the speech before taking action “if necessary”. While officials claim to have sent the notice to him three days ago,Varun’s election coordinator Yogendra Singh Gangwar told The Indian Express over phone from Pilibhit that they were yet to receive it. The only notice received so far,Gangwar said,was about rallies for which they had not got permission. “We have submitted the permission letters to the district administration,” he said.

Asked about the meeting in Banderkheda where the alleged remarks were made,Gangwar said: “Varun Gandhi may have said a lot of things but TV channels seem to be showing it in a distorted manner. We met the District Magistrate but there was no mention of this incident.” Chief Electoral Officer A K Bishnoi said he was waiting for the district administration’s report.