BJPs tempered response: CD could be tampered

This issue has been answered by Varun. The Election Commission has taken note of this,so let the poll panel decide. We must understand that Varun says this CD is tampered, said BJP spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh.

The BJP poll committee,sources said,seemed taken aback at the turn of events. Rajnath Singh and M Venkaiah Naidu said they had talked to Varun,and he had told them that one of the CDs in question had been tampered with. Sources added that Advani had a more sharp exchange with the young leader,and Varun reportedly told him that he could not be blamed.

The BJPs Muslim face,Hussein,however later told reporters: No BJP leader has ever used this kind of language. The BJP does not associate itself with it.

In Uttar Pradesh,party leaders were at a loss for words trying to explain the speeches. The exceptions were Lucknow BJP candidate Lalji Tandon and party general secretary Vinay Katiyar,both of whom disapproved of what the young leader had said.

State BJP president Ramapati Ram Tripathi said perhaps Varun had been misunderstood. We need to see in what context he was talking. Maybe,when he said those lines,he was talking about terrorists and the increasing terror activities, he said,adding he would personally try to talk to Varun about the incident. He added: We respect the guidelines of the EC.

Kalraj Mishra,in charge of elections in the state for the BJP,tried to explain the incident saying Varun was a young candidate,full of enthusiasm,who may have said something in passing. But since we all respect the feelings of the people and also the EC,we will personally ask Varun to avoid such incidents in future, he said.

Katiyar,who is contesting from Ambedkar Nagar constituency,however,said that it was sad that Varun had made such remarks. Its fine if you talk about a person,but it is wrong to say any such thing about a community. The matter is now for the senior leaders to handle and the Election Commission to take action. We all will ensure that no one makes such remarks in the future, said Katiyar.

Tandon,contesting from Lucknow,said the party high command should ensure that such incidents are not repeated. We never indulge in such loose talk or abusive language,as we were taught by our elders, he said.

State BJP vice-president H N Dixit trained his guns on the Congress and Samajwadi Party,accusing them of blowing up the issue. Why are the Congress and SP making such a hue and cry over the matter? The SP calls his speech as provocative,but havent their leaders made similar remarks? Even the Congress has been making such remarks time and again, alleged Dixit.